rambling thoughts..........

I've thought a few times in the past couple of days of things I wanted to share with you, but now, for the life of me, I can't think of them. Yesterday we went to Stake training meetings in Bessemer. It was wonderful!! One of the things I enjoyed the most was singing the hymns!! They sang!!!!! A member of the stake presidency went through the training with us..........about keeping the Sabbath day holy. I shared with you the statement from Elder Ballard. This was just fleshed out a little more, but boy! it's given me cause to think about what I do on Sunday and what I am "saying" to my Father in Heaven. I also taught the Relief Society lesson today on Elder Nelson's talk from general conference...... "Making the Sabbath a Delight".

I don't want to bore you with "more of the same"...........the joy of associating with the younger missionaries, and assisting them. We went to pick up an investigator for church this morning. She is so thrilled to have "found the peace". We are anticipating a baptism in a couple of weeks! She said one of things that really got her interested was how happy the Elders always were. She knew what people say about Mormons, that they would hear the same things, have doors slammed in their faces, etc. And yet they were always smiling and happy. I love it!!!!! And while I was sitting in the foyer between Primary and Relief Society, a man in a red shirt walked in. I said hello. He asked where the chapel was. I pointed to it and told him they were just finishing up Sunday school. He sat down. It wasn't long before one of the Elders appeared and greeted him. (Thank goodness! I probably should have said more............)

Elder: Have you been here long?
Man in the red shirt: I just walked in.
Elder: Can I help you with something?
Man: I want to find a church.
Elder: I can help you with that! Come with me......

When I left after our Relief Society presidency meeting, the man in the red shirt was sitting with two Elders in the chapel listening intently. Can I just say again that I absolutely love being here and even a little bit involved!!!

I finished reading "Preach My Gospel" today........RAH!!! And it's before the end of the month! Even better. There were several things that kind of jumped off the page at me. I'm going to ask for some coaching on Tuesday at MLC. I want to be more effective. Why can't I open my mouth and "find"??? I'm determined to do better.

I often find myself "singing to myself" when we are walking around town, in the grocery store, mostly. These are the words I "sing":

"I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
I know who I am.
I know God's plan.
I'll follow him in faith.
I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.
I'll honor his name.
I'll do what is right;
I'll follow his light.
His truth I will proclaim."

It just makes me happy!!!! Sometimes I almost wish I could just get up on the checkout counter, do a happy dance, and tell the world why I am so happy! It certainly seems that there are a lot of unhappy people all around us. I'm beginning to understand Alma a little better............. to speak with "the trump of God"...........or even to speak "with the tongue of angels". I'm going to work on that............

What a Wonderful World.............

Ahhhhhh.............tonight is a night to love Alabama........... We had to do some shopping after we left the office, which was about 6:00 because we have been getting some more cars ready for sale--taking them for a "mechanical" check, having the "dent guy" come and fix the dents (that's fun to watch!) getting them detailed and then giving them a final check to make sure all the fluids are topped off, all the lights work, no missing hub caps, windows all go completely down and up again.......stuff like that. Soooooo.........about 7:00 we were coming home over Vestavia Hills, the sun was setting--a ball of fire in a sea of pinks and lavenders......an "island" of cloud with a hot white lining........... absolutely breathtaking (I tried to get a picture but I wasn't quick enough and I don't know that it would have looked right anyway). The air was soft and pleasant--we rolled down the windows--so lovely and then the moon in the east...............gotta love it!

just a little something..........

Look what came yesterday! RAH!!!! Now I will certainly have enough for MLC next Tuesday. I texted the zone leaders yesterday and asked if they could get me their orders. I have three filled and waiting right to the left of the stacks in this picture. That's one third..............I hope I get some more tomorrow. We have our District meeting tomorrow and we are going to take lunch with us for all the Elders--six of them. We don't have any Sisters serving in Ensley.......... And since we live outside the area and the missionaries are not to leave their area, this is our way of "having them over for dinner". Sister Newman is bringing a green salad and I'm making Hawaiian haystacks and carrot cake............a trial run for next week. Only next week we are having veggie trays instead of green salad. We had a great meeting this morning--office staff--with Pres. and Sister Hanks. It is such a blessing to be able to learn from them. I'm so thankful to be here now!

The small stack, front-right and turned "the other way" are boxes of the Book of Mormon in Spanish..........I can't tell you how excited I am to really have enough for this month. YAY!!!!!!

back in the saddle.............

What a wonderful day!!!!! I have decided I'm going to love Sundays.....not that I haven't liked them in the past, but we received some teaching today, and the lesson I was supposed to give in Relief Society today was on Pres. Nelson's talk from conference about making the Sabbath a delight. Read his talk again.............it's great! And this is what Pres. Johnson, stake president, gave us today......from Elder M. Russell Ballard - this is from just after the first of the year, before April conference - "The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have spent many hours during the past several months reviewing the research that is available regarding church doctrine and principles that increase faith in our Heavenly Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ and His atonement.

"As you are aware, we continue to be concerned about lasting conversion, covenant keeping multigenerational families, and in spiritually strengthening members of the church.

"Of all the organizational or policy changes or doctrinal training that could hasten the work of salvation at this time, we've determined that elevating the spirit and power of the Sabbath day would be the most influential in drawing members and families closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. " (emphasis added)

I just thought that was so profound! Of all the things they could teach or do, it comes to hallowing the Sabbath day. Sign me up! Can I say, "Sign us up"?? I want all of us there......to be strong and immovable.

AND!!!!!! Last week I was called to serve as 2nd counselor in the Relief Society. They sustained me today. When I went back in for Relief Society and Pres. Johnson wanted all of us together, he first said he had some business to take care of........ He asked us to sustain Roger as High Priest Group Leader!!!!!! Roger told me about 20 seconds before Pres. Johnson did!!! Then they immediately set him apart! He gave Roger a beautiful blessing.........I should have taken notes.....(if that's not "wrong"). I wish I could remember it better. I do remember the feeling of love and gratitude from Father in Heaven. I will ask to be set apart next week. Today was kind of busy after church, because Roger had ward council meeting and Pres. Johnson was there. They have them after church.

Sis. Davis, Relief Society president, asked me to pray about visiting teaching this week and we will go over it next Sunday after meetings.............a.g.a.i.n.............. I have a really hard time wrapping my head around visiting teaching assignments! It's just too big!!! And I hit a pre-programmed button on the organ again today. AGH!!!!! But oh well............ It is difficult to not have a way to practice for Sunday. I keep trusting the Lord will help me, and He does......it only took me one time through "Have I Done Any Good?" to get it right the second time, but oooowwwwww!!!! The first time was pretty rugged. (Too bad there were only two verses!...........or maybe that was a good thing!) I should have chosen an easier song. But I wanted to sing that one. And since I had the choice, I thought I better take advantage of it! Right?

Lovely day.............I hope your Sabbath has been as "delightful" as mine has been.............

........Roots.......

We have had a fun day today! The Bessemer Stake--"our" stake--sponsored a "Rootstech, Family Discovery Day" 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Somehow I got things mixed up and was thinking 2:30!!! AGH!!! When Roger came in and said we needed to go soon, I panicked!! I needed to wash my hair.........and think........my hair is in dire need of a trim and a perm.......very dire........indeed!! So, I swallowed my pride, jumped in the shower--and out, spritzed my hair in back where it is the worst, quickly dried it and curled all of it, threw on my clothes and we were out the door in about 20 minutes! Sadly, we were still late..........but they started out with a welcome meeting in which Stake Pres. Johnson spoke as well as the mayor of Bessemer........... you know there are several members of the community there when there is clapping following a testimony!! We were hoping to get into a class here or there, but they were pretty full. We did squeeze into one about Ancestry.com (we sat in the furtherest back corner of the room where Roger had a good nap). The teacher was entertaining, but I didn't learn a whole lot about using Ancestry other than I can sign in from FamilySearch and use it for free. When that came up in the class I squirmed a little because the "community members" don't have that luxury, though they were profusely invited to the family history center at the church. Still.......... Then we went to one with the title "But my Work is All Done". And we learned the peculiar difficulties the people of the South face. That was interesting! But not very helpful for us........ Things like the North burning so many public buildings during the war; the total lack of records for African Americans; points of immigration during the 1800s; floods; tornadoes, etc. I didn't dare bring up the idea that ancestors had "done it all". I know it's not "done".........but I really don't know how to do it or where to start. (A little point of interest! One time she said, "The War of the Confederacy"......I've never heard that before!) There were some really interesting displays in the cultural hall. I wanted to take some pictures, but didn't want to call that much attention to myself..........fun stuff. Do any of you know if we have an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War?  I was really impressed with the whole thing and it was well attended with several people traveling quite a distance. Way to go Bessemer!!!

After that was over we took a different road "home". It is fun to see different parts of the area. We stopped to eat at a little "hole in the wall" SAWs Barbeque. We had a baked potato stuffed with barbequed pork, butter, sour cream, green onions, cheddar cheese........it was good and one was enough for both of us. I want to talk to them and see if there is a possible MLC lunch there....... Maybe if they would bake the potatoes............ we'll see. We have MLC coming up September 1, so I have to get to work on it.

I need to stop "chatting"........I have a Relief Society lesson to finish up for morning. I saw the President at the church this afternoon and she was so thankful that I'm doing the lesson this week. She is a sweet lady. Every time I see her I get a hug and an "I love you". There are wonderful, loving people in Ensley.............

2nd transfer...........

Whew..............we are tired................... We thought our second transfer would be "easier", and it was in some ways. We knew more what to expect and I was TONS more relaxed and confident in what I was doing. And I now realize that I'm not so "afraid" of the missionaries anymore. That was a comfort. And it was so fun!!!!! We had all the bikes in the office........well, all but three. This was our maze........... The lights went out yesterday during a storm. While I took a nap Sister Newman arranged all the bikes with the boxes containing their accessories and whatever else their mom sent. She also put the bag with their bedding with their bike. She is amazing...........

This is the President's office........where we have office staff meeting every Monday or Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. He has interviews there occasionally, the Assistants use it more than President Hanks does.

After our transfer meeting this morning the missionaries came by the office to pick up their supplies. It was so fun to have them come. I made cookies last night--they weren't very good (my opinion). I have much to learn about baking at 600 feet elevation and 89% humidity!! Roger insisted we take them.........and the missionaries slicked them up..........there weren't even any crumbs left!

Here are some pictures of the parking lot after the meeting.......missionaries running here and there, trying to make sure they have all their luggage, bikes from there to here...........and I'm running around trying to find Elders I'm not sure I will recognize, but I found them and got all my supplies where they needed to be. Ohhhhhhh............I about forgot. During the meeting Roger worked on Tiwis and a trunk that wouldn't shut. And after he got one tiwi changed I took the car for a test drive. It was kind of fun, but the tiwi "talked" to me only once. I was glad to learn for sure it was working! I'm hoping tomorrow will be a little easier...............

 And then Pres. Hanks comes out and yells, "Go!" or "Get out of here!" and tells me it's like herding cats or pushing around a wheelbarrow full of frogs! He is so funny sometimes. And it's a good thing he didn't know how many of them came by the office and how long some of them were there, because Roger and I went to find some lunch about 3:00 and they had to wait for us to get back .........we were hungry! It's been a great day!!!

change up!

Thanks, Flora Lee. It will let up some, but we have transfers this week.......a training with the new missionaries tomorrow night. But red letter day!!!!!! We have all the bikes for the new missionaries!! That's more exciting than it sounds! Soooooo..........I was looking ahead to the next group coming, and realized I had mistakenly thought they would enter the MTC on September 16. Well, most of them do, but there are five entering the MTC in Mexico City day after tomorrow!!!! And I didn't know anything about their bikes! I got on the phone and though I know a mom who is going to be saying goodbye to her child soon doesn't need a bike to worry about, I had to call. They are all pretty good about it. Well.........they all were. And when I called one two weeks ago, whose son will be here tomorrow, we had a really good visit and then a chat through email. It is really fun!!! In fact!! The sister I talked to two weeks ago had a decided accent and I asked about it. She is from South Africa!! I told her our oldest son had served in South Africa Johannesburg.........she may have known him!!!! She remembers the two men who were his mission presidents. A quote from her: "You sent your first son to me and now I am sending mine to you." Yes, she is! Bless her!

Here is the change for the day............five or six of those nine bikes got moved into "my" room!

The President had to have at least one interview this morning........... since the picture though, I took out some of the big boxes on the left--they have bedding in them so I emptied the boxes and filled the bags. And we added another bike! I also did some rearranging of the boxes on the table........I have to have some things ready for transfer day on Wednesday. AND!!!! another order came!! But I think it's the one they weren't supposed to send!! So I called Salt Lake and we got it all straightened out, but that means I'll have another 25 boxes of the Book of Mormon come next week. The FedEx guy is going to hate me. The Assistants helped him today though............and Elder Van Buren came in saying he asked if they could teach him................he said no. Good for him for asking!!

Thursday - Saturday

Wow! What a wonderful three days of conferences..........though we did get pretty tired out. Wednesday we had conference here in Birmingham. Thursday morning we left before 6:00 to get to Huntsville on time. It was such a pretty drive. We were taking a car to some sisters whose car is going to be in the garage for two weeks (they got rear-ended). The Assistants were supposed to take it, but they forgot, so I had to drive our car while Roger drove the mission car. I don't like to drive--I'd rather sleep or look all around. I did some looking, but you know, you have to pay some attention to the road! The sun was coming up just as we got on the freeway.........and you don't have to be very far north of Birmingham before you are out in the trees and fields. In some places the dew was so heavy it looked like frost in the new sunlight. It really was a lovely drive.........though I was really glad when we arrived! The missionaries began arriving soon after we got there. We gave them the inspection papers and helped them check the fluid levels and air pressures...........we stayed out and finished a couple of cars that came later, but were inside in time to do our presentations and eat lunch. After lunch we checked the Tiwis.........then Roger wanted to get some tires changed so the Elders wouldn't have to take the time to do it. And our car needed to have a little job done--the drain from the AC was clogged, so it was dripping inside the car. Smelly!!!!! We took both of them to Firestone. They said they could do them so we waited and waited. Finally we told them we had to get the car back for the missionaries and they hadn't done ours either.......... We returned, bid the missionaries good-bye, and went to find someplace to eat before heading west to Tupelo, Mississippi.

Getting there was quite the adventure! Because we are on the eastern edge of the time zone it gets light early and dark early! So we hadn't gone far before it got dark, and we weren't quite sure of the way, but were getting along fine until our GPS started telling us to "turn right...." or "turn left...." and there was no road to turn onto!! The map on the GPS showed that we were not even on a road!! We finally found an "off ramp" and found ourselves in Red Bay--which I thought should have been still farther away. I took my paper map and went into a C-store. The clerk didn't know a whole lot, but a young man there was very willing and gave instructions to "go here", "turn left the turn right". I asked him to come out to the car and repeat that to my husband. When we got out to the car, Roger was talking to a police officer. These people are very friendly and willing to help! We got back on the road and soon after, Elder Van Buren called.........he thought he had seen us going the other direction. He had!! He saw us just after we turned around--in our confusion........ Our GPS still showed we were driving "off highway"....out through some field.........then suddenly, we were back on the road! Crazy! Elder Van Buren said it's a new road and not really finished yet, and then, we haven't updated our GPS. Thankfully the rest of the trip was uneventful. At least until we were driving down Main Street in Tupelo and I checked ahead on the GPS. Somehow I had us going to the stake center instead of our hotel!!! And we were exhausted!! Talk about being glad to see a bed! And thankfully, it was a very comfortable bed!

Next morning we were at the stake center and handing out papers again, checking cars, glove boxes and Tiwis...........(now, THANKFULLY we are done for another three months!!!) But we had to pull out a bunch of non-working Tiwis. Inthinc (inthink) who makes the Tiwis wanted Roger to make sure the plug on one of the cars was getting a full 12 volts, so we took it to Firestone--and our car too, because it was still dripping--they said they could get them right in. The man was a little startled when Roger asked what that meant. When Roger explained, he assured us it would be very soon and he was sorry their AC was not working. There were a couple of other women waiting and I went over to sit down. I don't remember how the conversation got started, but one of the women was from France! She comes over here every year for "Elvis Week" in Tupelo!!!! She's done that for FORTY YEARS!!!!!!!! I was stunned!!! Though I tried not to show it. Maybe the surprise came through........ It was delightful to talk with her. She even told me if I ever go back to France I can call her and she will make sure we see "other" parts of France. She gave me her "card". So I gave her two of mine!! She is going out to the Grand Canyon and to Bryce Canyon...........she "loves" Bryce Canyon. Roger told her she should stop in St. George to see the temple and go to the visitors' center. She has been to Temple Square in Salt Lake and seen some of the videos. Like I said, it was really fun. Her watch was an aqua blue with a picture of Elvis in it and her earrings were ELVIS sideways. Fun!!!!

We got back in pretty good time and were able to be there for the last hour or so......... It was so good. Pres. Hanks tries to give them time to ask "any question on any subject" and he will answer as long as one of his answers can be "I don't know". These young people are like sponges.........it was almost like they wanted it to go on and on. They are eager to learn and want to do what's right. I'm just so glad we could be there. And it was fun to watch Roger as he interacted with the Elders. There are a couple up there who he is "coaching"........well, one flat out can't drive anymore........and he's trying to keep the companion driving. They are so appreciative and one of them even gave him a hug. I'm glad. Roger worries a little bit about being a "catcher".......when what he would like to do is trust them and turn them loose. He doesn't want to be the "bad guy", but sometimes has no choice. Lots of times Roger is between Salt Lake and the missionary.........Salt Lake does not see the missionary in the circumstance and know the missionary as Roger does, so lots of times it is a very unenviable position. But he's doing really well! Pres. Hanks is very appreciative and is getting better at communicating that appreciation.

The Newmans were in Tupelo with us on Friday, so we asked Elder Riding and Elder Candland to "tend" the office while we were all gone and to put the bikes together while they were there. Well!!!! This is what we found when we walked in yesterday!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!

There are NINE bikes in there!! And I'm so thankful they are all put together! I think I could do it with some more teaching and practice. But when I think that I'm practicing on someone's $600 or $700 bike I get a little weak in the knees!

We have seventeen missionaries coming on Tuesday! I'm excited to meet them. I will start getting things ready tomorrow for them.........the rest of the bedding came, so I can get that all ready. RAH!!!

I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!

what a day............

Our day started out wonderfully and lovely. We got to the stake center just as some of the missionaries began to arrive. We passed out "inspection" papers so they could "inspect" their own cars and make sure their "legal documents" were not expired. What a picker-upper to greet with hugs (the sisters) and hand shakes these wonderful, committed missionaries!! (I told the Elders later that for them, a hand shake is a hug. And how delighted I am to be here associating with them.) Anyway, Roger and I are learning. Things went so much better today. They probably saved us two whole hours in the afternoon--hours which we needed and didn't know we needed! (more about that later) We had all the glove boxes "gone through" with all the associated information we needed, tire pressures checked, fluid levels checked and topped off and battery cables protected before 9:00 a.m.!!!!! RAH!!!! First thing accomplished!!!

Zone conference started at 9:00....... This group did not sing with quite as much gusto as the Bessemer zone, but it was a joy to sing "For the Strength of the Hills" with them. The President took some time, then the senior missionaries did our "training". What am I going to train on !?!?!?!???? (referrals--which I don't handle anymore and "media") So I shared something out of "Preach My Gospel", kind of bore my testimony and told them they are wonderful and I love them. Within two minutes of sitting down I thought of three other things I could have/needed to tell them............but it all worked out. So yay!! I can be the cheerleader!!!! Some Sisters called Roger yesterday for something, but since he was driving I answered his phone. She told me how much she appreciated my training at the last MLC (Mission Leadership Council meeting). I told them about the papers we had to sign for the Jewish government that the students at the Jerusalem Center would not proselyte at all in Jerusalem. Elder Holland, as president of BYU, and Pres. Benson, for the Church.........had to sign the agreement or they would not permit us to build that building!!!!! After the papers were all signed one of "our" friends in the government said, "Oh, we know that you are not going to proselyte, but what are you going to do about the light that is in their eyes?" ..........way cool, huh??? If you want to read Pres. Faust's talk it is, "The Light in Their Eyes", Conference, Oct. 2005. So all of that happened before these missionaries were even born!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!! I was thankful for Sis. (I don't know her name, sorry)......her feedback. Makes me feel that I can be useful here. That sounds a little melodramatic, but there are many days when I feel that I'm just kind of putting in the time. I know I am very contradictory in what I'd like or how I feel, because I'm really not comfortable at center stage and I like to do things like prepare the food and let someone else serve it while I wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen.........yet I like to know that I am doing something important that would really make a difference if I didn't do it. Does that make any sense at all? Probably not............and that's okay and I'm okay, really..........I don't want to be in the spotlight and have a fuss made. So I'll just be very thankful for my "little plot of ground" and tend it the best I can. Which reminds me!!!! You should see my decimated "closet"!!!!! I think I told you how excited I was to receive our order the other day: 25 boxes (40 books each) of the Book of Mormon. Well.........tonight there are 7 left!!!!!! Good thing I ordered another 25 boxes yesterday! The poor FedEx guy does not enjoy delivering to us, and I really can't blame him. But I don't know how to help that. Any ideas? He probably can't accept tips............. I'll have to give that some thought.

Sorry, but I have to finish today.........though it did end a little on the down side........... After lunch I went out to help Roger make sure the Tiwis were logging in okay (I'm going to get reported on!!!! I didn't fasten my seat belt to drive around the parking lot!!) Anyway, we went to get some chips in the windshield filled--we each drove a car. The one Roger was driving had already been "fixed" so he went back for a third car while the guy fixed ours. It was not scorching hot by then, so I turned the car off and rolled down the window and we got to talking. He was a very pleasant young man. He is in ministerial school, so I asked about that.......he talked a lot. He asked what we believe and I started with the Articles of Faith--not word for word, but even those basic doctrines were too much for him. I asked him if a man like Paul or Peter or James or John were on the earth today if he would be interested. That led to Apostles (which he had no concept of), apostasy (which he wasn't sure he agreed with), and restoration (that included the First Vision...........Roger came back and assisted me............but we really fell down when he asked what revelation the Prophet had received lately. Do you think we could come up with the Proclamation on the Family!?!!?!???? I was so frustrated!!! when I did finally think of it that I missed the right place to turn and got on the freeway when I really did not want to get on the freeway!! Thankfully, the GPS found me and "recalculated". AGH!!!!!!! So now I'm going through the self-condemnation of "he'll go talk with his minister/teacher and they will talk about Mormons in class and 'you better stay away from them'" etc., etc. He was such a nice young man. And loves people and loves the Lord. I wish I were a better teacher! I did find a Restoration pamphlet in the trunk of the car Roger brought and gave that to him with the office phone number on the back in case he wanted to ask more questions..........we'll send some young missionaries for that!! Sometimes I wonder what is the use of trying if I mess up so badly. But I will keep trying. Promise.

I'm tired and we have to leave here by 6:00 in the morning so we can be in Huntsville on time. We are staying over up there somewhere so we don't have to drive all the way to Tupelo, MS, the next morning. The afternoons outside are pretty brutal............I'll stay in touch..........what a saga!! You are a champ!!

an ordinary day in Alabama Birmingham...........

Whew............. It was fun to be busy all day. I knew there was a stack of mileage/gasoline logs I needed to go through, but I didn't get to them until afternoon. I'm trying to remember what I did in the morning...... Oh!!! Since we have transfers next week and we are getting seventeen new missionaries, I thought I would get their bedding all ready for them. It's a really good thing I did too!!! Because, when I got to the bottom of the box of blankets, there were no more!!!!! I was so excited last week (or the week before) when my "linen" order came. I thought I was set! Well.........no......... I called the lady I order through--afraid that I might not have told her I needed the blankets as well. (She said I had ordered them.......whew!) She was very kind. Didn't know why they had not been shipped. She would check into it at get back to me. Then she realized that the "date I needed them by" was close! (next Wednesday) I told her I was hyper-ventilating!! She called back about an hour later to say they were shipping today and they would be here this week. Bless her!! My heart rate and respiration immediately returned to normal.

I did the mileage logs in the afternoon........got all the information in the computer that we need and filed the papers. Roger also needed to get some information from the "new" missionaries' files into the computer, so I pulled all those files and then helped enter the info--then re-file the papers. It is so fun to finally know enough that I'm not always asking how to do things........and make decisions about orders etc. My Book of Mormon order came today!!! That was another celebration. Some sisters came in this afternoon and they took a box. We are having three more zone conferences this week and the zone leaders have just texted me, asking if I will bring some boxes with me for them. I am so thrilled at the numbers of books these missionaries give! I've told them they are flooding Alabama with the Book of Mormon!! It's marvelous! I think I told you that I have been cut from the "referral team". Makes me a little sad. Well.........more than a little......... but I realize in missions where there is only one secretary, it will be a huge benefit. Sis. Newman said the referrals got put off when she was alone in the office. That's why I had so much catching up to do when we got here. I can think of other things I might trim down.........and referrals don't take that long anyway............but oh well..........

We got another bike (in a box) today and I sent the sisters who came into the office to pick up one from a bike shop that is all together. They have a bike rack on their car and we don't. They were glad to help. I think I'm going to watch the "bike assembly" video again tonight and have a go tomorrow. Then I will pack boxes for zone conference so we can be ready Wednesday morning........early. I might get this "morning thing" down yet!!! The key is the discipline to go to bed on time........that means stop doing something I enjoy doing and go to bed--which I think is a total waste of time!

Help!!! I'm getting fluffy!!! Is there an easy work out something on line I can start doing? We don't get down to the exercise room often enough..............I've got to do something!!!

I AM LOVING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

first zone conference............

........another tomorrow.........and three next week. I think I'm tired......... We each had to present this morning and take things with us. 'Course, the Elders carried in my four boxes. They are so good to watch and offer to help. I didn't have much to tell them, but as soon as I sat down I thought, "Oh!! I should have told them that!" Kind of like giving a talk........you understand.

The training was so good! I'm glad I get to hear it five times. Maybe by then I will remember better. We stand and recite D&C 4 at the beginning of nearly every training.......well, I don't "recite". I stumble through and just plain listen to some verses. I have it hung up here at home--in the bathroom and the kitchen--and it's getting a little better, but a very little. Pres. Hanks talked about "weapons of rebellion" (among a whole host of other things) and asked us to consider what our "weapons of rebellion" are and to "lay them down". I'm going to work on the bedtime thing. The "get up" thing will take care of itself if I can whip the other. He also gave them a grammar lesson!! Hooray!!!!! He had 4-5 sentences on the power point and asked them how to fix them.........mostly pronoun usage: him and me, ...............and that's the only one I can think of exactly right now, but other such things. He said if a potential employee used that kind of grammar in an interview there is no way he would hire him. He couldn't afford to take that chance that he would talk like that to a customer. Yeah. Oh! And he talked about "the little things". Some famous, very popular rock star (or something like that) would send out a 16 page document containing instructions on how to set up his lights and sound equipment for his concerts. In there he gave instructions to have a bowl of m&ms. And have all the green ones removed. Why? He knew if they got down to the green m&ms he didn't have to worry about the "big" things. Interesting, huh?

After lunch Roger and I went out to "go through the cars". He wanted to check the Tiwis and make sure they were all "communicating". I went through the documents in the glove box to makes sure they had current insurance "cards" and that all the numbers matched: license plate, VIN, Tiwi, gas card. We try to know where everything is..........daunting, but doable...........and we are getting it. Thankfully, we had a pretty good cloud cover most of the time. It was plenty hot and humid, but it could have been a whole lot worse!

Toward the end of the training Pres. Hanks suddenly said, "Drop your pencils and look at me." You should have heard the clatter of pens and pencils! Cool! Then he testified that they are representatives of the Lord, Jesus Christ. He has given them that trust and has empowered them to do just that! Then admonished them to go out and testify. Don't be afraid of anyone. Tell the world! ..........it was really neat.

On the way home, we stopped in the "peach capitol" of Alabama for some, you guessed it, peaches. And they had some homemade ice cream, so I got some peach ice cream. As I was coming out I greeted a man going in. He stopped and partially turned around to look at my name tag. I turned my shoulder a little so he would be able to see it more easily and said, "The Church of Jesus Christ..." but that's as far as I got. He said, "God bless you people!" I was a little surprised!! But it turns out that he has several friends who are members and he admires them greatly. He judges the entire Church by his friends...........not surprising. And way to go Friends!!!! Roger said he wished he would take the lessons. Turns out his wife is a strict Catholic and this man doesn't want to drive any wedges. I think he would jump in with both feet at the deep end otherwise..........kind of makes my heart ache. He again "blessed" us and wished us well. A really, really good ending to a very good day.

piles of work........

A fairly long and very busy day today. We've had three really good days here. Last Friday Roger was really tired and somewhat discouraged because there was so much to do and I think he was wondering if he was ever going to "get on top of things" or be able to do what really needed to be done. I may have told you all that.......forgive me if I have.........but then, while we were waiting for the doors to open for "Mary Poppins".......okay, I didn't tell you.........He took me to see "Mary Poppins" for our anniversary!!! Isn't that grand!?!?!?!!! And it was a delightful production. We had a great time. We sat by some women--rather young women--who had brought their daughters--all cousins--the women were sisters/sisters-in-law. It was fun. And when the woman I was sitting by wished me "luck" on our mission, I really wish I had asked her if she meant it? And what could she say but "yes"??? Then I could have asked if we could share our message with her!! That's kind of Ammon's approach isn't it? But........I didn't........and I may never have another opportunity. But I am getting braver!!! I'll tell you about that in a minute.......

So it was a real blessing to have a weekend........a Sunday to "rest".........

Monday (I'm really sorry. I can hardly believe it's Wednesday night!) I'm trying to remember: office meeting; we inspected two cars so they could be sold; and I sewed a lot..........I told you they were going to send referrals right to the missionaries in 2-3 months.......well, it's now! I had one referral on Monday and not one since. I know it couldn't just quit like that. At least I hope not! I really hope they are sending them to the missionaries. But it sure doesn't help my "feeling needed" meter.

Tuesday we had a few mileage and inspection reports come in. This is what I can do to help Roger. He has taught me how to get into the programs and how to enter the information while he is talking to missionaries--coaching them on their driving and putting out fires like oil changes, cars that won't start (new batteries), new tires, etc., etc. He really is on call all the time! One of the Assistants told him to turn his phone off tonight! Yesterday afternoon I also got part of my order!!!!!! I was so excited!!!! I now have Bibles to take to zone conference tomorrow!!!! And some other materials they wanted. I am really glad and thankful about all that!! I got things all organized and "put away" in "my" room........it was lovely.

Today we had another stack of mileage and inspection reports. Elder VanBuren was chuckling when he brought them to me.........

I think he thought I would groan, but really, it was something I could do!!!

Here they are, almost ready to be filed. I go through them, check the receipts against the mileage/fuel log they fill out, then check them on the statement on the computer and record the "ending" mileage for the month in the "cars" program. It probably sounds redundant and persnickety, but I do it to help Roger and I quite enjoy it........so far..........we'll see how I hold out over the long-haul........... I got them all finished and filed before I needed to get my things together for zone conference tomorrow. I had four boxes of materials/books to take out to the car. Elder Sariah helped me--and then I remembered that he has a sore back!!!! He told me not to worry about it..........yeah.............

We bought us a new couch on Saturday because the old one was dreadfully uncomfortable. So the Assistants took the truck and helped us pick it up at the store and bring it home. It was an extremely tight fit--think take the door and weather stripping off and still b.a.r.e.l.y. fitting through. I don't know how they will ever get it out............. The Assistants had to go back to the office for a little bit and then came back to help us some more and we fed them supper. They are such good young men!!! It's so wonderful to get to know them............ There are others too. I am really getting to love them. YEA!!!!!

I didn't tell you that we went to the temple last night...........another wonderful blessing. It has been closed for two weeks for cleaning, and they didn't answer the phone at all yesterday, so I didn't know if it was really open or if there would be room in the session. There was. I was the second sister "in line". Another "picker-upper". I was proxy for Mattie _______ Adams.......AGH!!!!!! I was going to remember it!!!! She was born in 1889........isn't that a year after Grandmother Andrus? And I thought, "My goodness! I could have known her! We were alive in the world at the same time for at least a little while!" And partway through the session I felt her joy!!! I am so excited to meet her!!!! What if I already know her???? Don't you just love the radiant truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ!!?!?!?!!!!

And while we were eating our sandwich--on our way home--a beautiful family came in........darling children--three, I think. Roger said something about a beautiful little girl and the dad said something about "blessings". We exchanged a couple of other pleasantries and Roger and I went out to the car. Then I had a feeling that I had to do more. I got an "I'm a Mormon" card out of my purse and ran back in.......told them we believe that families can be forever and if they had questions they could go to the website to learn more and ask questions if they wanted to. It was a fantastic feeling!!!! I don't know if I should have said more, but it felt okay, so I have to trust that.......else I could drive myself crazy here!!!

Wow! I didn't realize so much had happened in these three days! And tomorrow we have our first zone conference. I'm looking forward to that! Thanks for hanging with me!!!!!

not gone or lost...........

Did you think I had forgotten you? I hope not! You are never far from my thoughts and always in my prayers......... We've had a busy week. I told you about MLC and I checked that off the list. I even went back to the office and ordered all the books we need (some that we needed that morning!) I'm going to place another order next week for more. I really don't want to ever run out again. I feel so incompetent and a "slacker" when someone tells me they need a Bible and we don't have any available!! And then!! One of the zones picked up all the Spanish copies of the Book of Mormon--so they don't have any English and the others who needed Spanish don't have any Spanish!!!! I've got to think of a way I can do this more accurately. I'm open to any and all suggestions.........please. Maybe I will stack everything up for each zone before I leave the church. I get the orders from the zone leaders by text and put it all on a spread sheet. Then I pack boxes with their orders and write the zone name on the box. The Assistants then make sure all that and the boxes of the Book of Mormon I tell them we need get loaded in the van and taken to MLC. I have seen them stacked in the hallway, and I've figured they will just get what they ordered/need. Next time, next month--well, this month AGH!!! I'm going to go stack up each zone's order with the box I have labeled on the top. Maybe that way they will each get what they ordered. And I'm going to have enough books!!! I was short last month too, and I'm not going to do that again! Thanks for letting me talk it out. If you see a flaw or something that would make it more efficient, please share!

I think I've also told you that I often run out of things to do. Well.........I learned this week that they are going to take away another of my "duties". In another 2-3 months they are going to have the referrals go directly to the missionaries. So I won't get to be in on that little joy. ALSO!!!!! remember the "personal driving record" your missionaries had to fill out and the three year record from the DMV they had to get and send to the mission? Well, they are going to make that part of the application process in the "missionary portal" so there is another thing I won't "have" to do!!! I told them I was going home. If they don't need me here........... I am helping Roger though. And I know he values that. We have had some wonderful time together. I think it's amazing and wonderful that we have been together constantly for two months now and we are not tired of it yet!! We had a friend at home tell us--well, through another friend--that we would need a two bedroom apartment because "sometimes you just need your space"! We do have a two-bedroom apartment, but we've shared the space quite well, I think. We even do okay in the kitchen most of the time.

We had EIGHT children in Primary today! The three little sisters who are always there, three visitors--a girl and two boys, and two others from the Branch who I had not met before. Well, the 11-year-old boy came a few weeks ago and was the only one in Primary, so we sent him with the youth. Today he had his ten-year-old (who looked more like 13 or 14!! I'm not kidding!!) sister with him. I hope they enjoyed Primary. They were pretty quiet.......I'm not even sure they sang the songs as I was also playing the piano. I've got to think of a way to teach gospel principles in between learning the songs. That isn't hard to do "at home" because I know the families and the children are there nearly every week. Here they might come............well, this is the first time I have seen this girl and the second time for the boy......in six weeks. It's sad. I wonder if they will come next week. I hope so.

If you have made it clear through all this you deserve a star!! Thanks for your love and support. I'm so thankful for my heritage.......grateful to have such a solid foundation in the gospel. Love to you!!

P.S. Remember the "puddle" from this post? click here Well! That is a 3-4 foot culvert!!!! I'll see if I can get a picture of it "dry".