.....ramblings.........

Wow!! A whole week! I knew I wasn't writing anything, but........... well, here I am. Let's see. I told you about our wonderful Primary program and Monday. I'll start with Tuesday. You know, I better just tell you the things I remember and not try to put them to a specific day. Can you tell we had a pretty uneventful week? We have five cars lined up in the parking lot for sale. We got the last two from the detailing place and then "inspected" them and Roger posted them "for sale". No takers yet.

We've had very few referrals this past week......two days I know we had only one. Very unusual!

The Newmans were out of the office on Thursday.......it was a very quiet day. I have done a lot of embroidery this week.......and today...........

Roger has not been feeling really well this week.......sinus infection, I think. He finally got some antibiotic for it and is on the upswing! RAH!!! RAH!!! We walked around Star Lake (a pond about four blocks from the office--one of those places we found to walk) It's lovely.......ducks and geese aplenty and one beautiful pair of swans. I keep wondering if, and hoping we will, see babies come spring! Tonight I wondered where they would nest. There really is no place right by the "lake" (I'll take some pictures one of these times so you will have a visual). They have crossing signs on the roads all around it, so maybe they cross the road to someone's yard or the golf course to nest. It will be fun to find out! The trees are dropping their leaves.........and I'm thinking some of the trees might be bald cypress because they are dropping their feathery-fine leaves as well and their trunks look "right". I'm going to research that........... We walked three times around tonight........1.2 miles!!! Do I hear cheers?!?!!?? It's been rainy today. Not the torrents, just a nice, constant, gentle rain.......lovely.........except while we were walking. Well, that was lovely too, but no rain........ the clouds scudding across the sky south-east to north-west, which seems exactly opposite of what it should be with Patricia having pushed south-west to north-east across Texas. We talked to Scott and Meg Saturday morning and they were fine--plenty of rain though.

On Saturday we went to explore Aldredge Gardens. Thirty acres of forest, pond and "meadows" right here in the middle of Hoover!!!! It was solace to this soul........... It was so good to smell the pines!! And yes. I forgot my camera. Well, really I didn't know we were going there when we left. And can you believe.........I did not pick up one (or sixty) pine cones!!!! It was just a tad of a struggle, but I didn't know if they would throw me out if I did. So I was a good girl!

I jumped over Friday--not intentionally. We had District Meeting on Friday. It was really, really good! I don't know how to say it better than that. Elder Opare--from Africa--is the district leader and has a very quiet voice. I kept imagining him as a dad......... Anyway, he asked us all to come prepared to share how we gained our testimonies. Such an outpouring of the Spirit.......how could there not be??? A few tears and tender emotions........it was so neat!!!! And then we ate! I made six quarts of soup and a pan of corn bread with honey butter. We also had carrots and ice cream.......... We didn't have a crumb of anything left!!! So fun!!!!!

From left: Elder Lott, zone leader; Elder Jenkins, going home to Mesa in two weeks (so fun to get to know him better); Elder Brandt, zone leader; Elder Fanos, from Evanston--kind of; Elder Opare, district leader; Elder Briscoe, been here not quite three months; Elder Newman, finance secretary; Elder.........well, Roger. Such a wonderful time!!! I wish everyone could have a similar experience!!

wonderful witnesses........

A really good day here.............how I love this!!!!! We had "office meeting" this morning. I shared "Hope: the Misunderstood Sister". (Ensign, June 2009) I am so thankful for that article. I'm sure the author would be surprised if he knew what it has meant to me these six whole years! I'm surprised it has been so long! I mentioned at some point that I wanted Pres. Hanks to teach me how he did his files--he has them on his home computer and in "dropbox" so he can access them from wherever. I told him "when you have nothing else to do". Sooooo...........Sis. Hanks had to talk with Sis. Newman, and Pres. Hanks said, "let's do it now". (Really!?!?!?!???) They were supposed to be on their way to Tupelo for interviews!! I knew he had a really busy day planned, and I didn't want to add to his burden........but he's a big boy, right? So we sat down at my computer and he went through it. I'm so excited to get mine going. But I felt rather guilty at taking so much of his time. I can't imagine why anyone would want to be a mission president!!! What a heavy load!! They are pretty excited that this is their last year. I can't blame them. The rest of the day was uneventful.........I went with Roger to take a car out to Bessemer. I must remember to take my camera on one of those trips. It is such a pretty drive! I want to share it with you. When we got back it was time for lunch and then the referral center had scheduled a training on the new referral system.......well, he called about ten minutes after it was to have started and said they were having troubles with part of it and would I mind if we re-scheduled? What did he expect me to say to that!?!?????

I looked back through my post of last night and I couldn't believe that I didn't tell you about sacrament meeting yesterday! It was absolutely, totally wonderful!!! The Primary program. Sorry. Even though that is "enough" you have to put up with my account.......... We have three "regulars" in Primary......all sisters from another ward in the stake. Their parents have callings in Ensley. Last week, when we practiced for the program, the Primary president and her counselor brought their grandchildren to help with the program. Yesterday we had nine children--eight or nine. No one is expected to have their parts memorized because you never really know which part is going to be "yours" because you never know who is going to be there for sure. And the songs are not memorized (unless the regulars had them memorized, but they don't have to because we always have the words in front of them for the others who come now and then) And then, because there are so few children, they ask the missionaries to sit in back of them and sing "softly" so as not to upstage the children but to give them support and a little  more volume. I played the piano for the program until the last song, "A Child's Prayer". I'm really no good at improvising that to play the singing line with some accompaniment, so Sis. Randall and I switched places. I'm so glad it worked out that way!!! The children sang the first verse, "Heavenly Father, are you really there?......." The missionaries did not stand up, so from somewhere behind the children came the reassurance, "Pray, he is there; Speak, he is listening........" Oh. My. Goodness.!!!! Talk about the chills!!!! And then the third verse when they both sang together!!!! I don't know that an angel choir could sound better!! The visual of these sweet children asking the question and the steady reassurance from the missionaries, somewhere behind with the sound floating up, over the children.............there were more than a few tears! And it was powerful! Such a blessing to have witnessed it!

Our Relief Society lesson was chapter 20, like you.........Sis. Newman did a great job!! And we talked about visiting teaching. It hasn't been happening here for some time.........I think............no one says right out loud, but it's inferred. So now I have three sisters I'm to visit with Sis. Newman. It will be so fun!!! One of them is the wife in a family Roger is home teaching. Yesterday afternoon Roger wanted to go visit a brother and sister who had been to church but then she needed to go home. She has rheumatoid arthritis and is in a wheel chair everywhere but at home. On our way to visit them I wondered out loud if we should go see Turners? We had a good visit with Bro. Turner on the front porch. And his wife is going to Florida tomorrow to stay. He is moving down in two months! There goes one of "my" sisters!!!! And then we didn't get to see Bro. and Sister Robinson! Sounds kind of like the Lord had something to do with all that, huh? I do not doubt it.

Thanks again for hanging on here with me...........another long one, but I needed to record it. I am so blessed!!!!! In so many, many ways!!!! And I'm thinking of YOU!!!!

Lovely ending following a hard beginning.........

Whew!!! I made it! I've had a run-around getting into my blog tonight. I guess it's been too long since I wrote last and I don't remember very well.

I think I left you last week with us donating blood and getting stung.......I'm surprised that it "took so much out of me". I was kind of dragging for a couple of days. I was going to make a post, but just didn't feel like it. We were going to go to the temple Tuesday night, but we were both too tired. Roger has a sinus infection that is really pulling him down. We will get some medication tomorrow--thankfully. He had some home teaching visits lined up for Wednesday evening. We met his companion at the church and I sat in the car while they went inside the homes. They didn't want to leave me alone at the church. I think I had a nap. The Book of Mormon "class" is Wednesday nights and I thought we were going to that, but after the home teaching Roger wanted to come home. Yeah. Tired again. Thursday was a normal day at the office--phone calls, cars to run here and there, gas logs to reconcile, driving papers for incoming missionaries to get ready for the next transfer--when they arrive. And somewhere during one of those days we received our shipment of SIXTY boxes of Book of Mormons!!! RAH!!!! I do not plan on running out ever again!!!! I had thought 30 looked like a lot. And I'm going to order more tomorrow. Pres. Hanks wants us to have lots of materials on hand before the end of the year so he can make sure the new president coming in July will have plenty of budget left for the second half of the year. (I hope that made sense.) Also, I had to order the bedding for the missionaries coming next month. I'm learning I can thinking and plan ahead.......good to know!

On Friday we went north.........some Elders in Madison needed a tiwi put in their car. Also some in Huntsville. We were kind of late getting away, and then things took a little longer than we planned, so we were later getting home than we wanted to be, because we were going north again the next day for our "senior outing". We thought about staying in Huntsville over night, but I was glad to sleep here and not have to pack things and haul them around.......I'm lazy like that.

Yesterday was really fun........we got to walk through the native deciduous forest and have someone with us who could tell us which plant/tree was what. And it was a lovely day!!! Here are some pictures. We went to Haleyville........lovely place........and lovely drive to get there...........

The year is growing old graciously here in Alabama...........I love fall..............

Some of the missionaries--Elder and Sister Robinson--came last week; Sister Jones (white sweat shirt) Elder Millyard (baseball cap), Elder Jones (facing me with glasses)

Tulip poplar leaf on a "baby" tree

 

Castor bean--and the pods below.........interesting......(castor oil comes from the seeds)

 

Our path through the woods.......her privately owned woods..........how lucky some people are!!

I don't know what these little things are.........they felt like dry wood........Carla was busy talking with someone else and a ways down the trail, so I didn't ask her. They seeped or grew out of this sawed off limb and looked like they had growth rings..........

Then we ate at this "restaurant".......run by an Amish family.....the food was totally delicious!! We had to drive down a little lane that turned to a gravel road beside a lumber yard into the gravel parking lot. Before we got there we were beginning to wonder if the GPS was guiding us right. The pot roast was to die for.......

......euphoria and distress............

I was going to write last night, but we listened to/watched the BYU football game. Ohhhhhhhh, what a game!!! Those kinds of games take years off my life, and I don't find them pleasantly "entertaining" at all!!! I enjoy the ones in which we have a comfortable lead the WHOLE GAME!!!! Anyway............ I didn't get it written last night, and I'm really tired now. I got stung this afternoon and, of course, I didn't have any Benadryl with me!! Thankfully, we got to a store and then Dad gave me a blessing. I have got to keep it with me! I sincerely hope I never get stung again!! But I digress.........back to the wonder.......

After MLC, the rest of the week was really quiet for me. I got a lot of embroidery done! And I helped Roger run cars around--oil changes, minor repairs, major repairs/estimates, detailing and then the final inspection. He sold one a couple of weeks ago to a real "Southern gentleman" from Magnolia, and the title never showed up. Come to find out, they had the address wrong and FedEx delivered it anyway!!!!! To an address that does not exist!! Go figure......... I was really surprised they would do that. I had greater faith in FedEx...........now it's been shaken forever! Soooo...........because a week ago we sat/stood in line at the DMV in Birmingham, we called about a satellite office closer here in Hoover. We were there less than an hour!!!! You would think government could figure this stuff out a little better! Anyway, Roger worked really hard to get that all straightened out. The man wants to go on a trip "west" but needs to license his car!! Obviously........... And........I've taken to walking fast "laps" through the office building. It's kind of fun, though I wonder what people think........do I care what they think?? I think not...........

We were going to spend much of the day yesterday here at home, but we went to look at some parks--trying to find a place we can go to walk that will be more fun than on the treadmill........when we can use the treadmill. I wonder if they have the second one fixed yet? It was supposed to be done two weeks after we got here. Right......... So we drove and walked around a couple of parks--lovely small ones with ponds, albeit, dirty ponds, with ducks, geese and a few swans. We talked with some very nice people. Then it was time to go donate blood. That's thrice!!!!! We get to go every two months--well, eight weeks. I so love that we can do that!! The lady that drew my blood was really good.......didn't hurt at all, no bruise and you can hardly see the little red spot left today........no scab like sometimes in the past. I hope she is there next time and I will request her. Then we drove around a little more and met up with some sisters to help them with their bike rack. We got back here about 4:30, and I didn't feel like doing anything. For some reason, this blood draw made me more tired than before. I took a short nap, we did a little laundry, had some supper........we stopped earlier at Arby's for a good roast beef sandwich--I needed that red meat!! And it was so good. I love their roast beef and their corned beef Reuben sandwiches. I did a little sewing later.

Today was really good!! I couldn't get to sleep last night--I forgot that Sudafed keeps me awake! AGH!!!!! I thought I would be way more tired than I was though. However, it is beginning to catch up........ for both reasons......... On our way home from church this afternoon, a man, a beekeeper here in Alabama called to see if we would like to go out to his "farm" and see some of his bees. We decided we should do that. We had a really nice visit then we got in his truck to drive out to his bees. He is a retired doctor and has bought about 400 beautiful acres about 20 minutes out of town. I can't for the life of me see why he doesn't sell his house in town and build whatever they want out there. It is absolutely beautiful!!!! I would do that in a heartbeat!!! I would even live in the house OR the cabin that are already on the property!! Soooo.......we drove out to one of the yards--about ten hives and his friend was there working the bees........one flew in my window and stung me under the chin!!!!! How annoying is that!?!?!??? Thankfully, I'm not immediately in trouble. It takes awhile. But I sure wish I had taken the Benadryl with me, because by the time we could leave and then drive to where there is a store, I was utterly miserable!! Not in serious trouble, but just plain miserable!! Dad dropped me off at the door so I could go in and get them.......I was downing the second pill when he found me. Thankfully, the pharmacist was walking by when found the pills and I asked if she could help me. I told her what was going on and asked if she could get a couple of pills out for me........by then I was shaking a little bit and didn't feel like I could open the package. I know I would never have been able to get the pills out of the little foil packs. What absurd packaging!!! I was so thankful for her help. Then I went and sat down outside while Dad paid for it. As soon as we got to the car he gave me a blessing. I'm so thankful for the power of and in the priesthood!! I wasn't immediately better, but I was calm. It "peaked" about twenty minutes later, and now I am feeling almost back to normal.......I'm tired and a little weak, but breathing normally. I'm going to have to decide if getting desensitize is worth the cost and the effort.........I'm not sure............ OH!!!! but I found what I want my "quilt cottage" to look like.....kind of............. This is their "cabin".......and it looks like one.......I love it!!  ................in the hills of Alabama!!!!

The golden rod it blooming literally everywhere. It is so pretty. The bees like it, but the honey smells like dirty socks. We could smell it just driving through the yard! Banks of it...........

Maybe you can see the three different ridges in this photo...........There is a city out there in all those trees!! It amazes me..........

We stopped at a "Whole Foods" market yesterday..........we found this with all the flowers! Pres. Hanks had never seen a cotton bole up close before a couple of weeks ago. He said it is a powerful testimony of a Creator. "You can tell by just feeling it that it will make something to wear!"

Near the Arby's we stopped at yesterday there was this "set up"...........The man had a bull horn with speakers on his van and all these placards. I wonder if he really thought we would have time to read them all? The nearest I've come to witnessing a revival meeting.

We heard several "honks" while we were waiting for the light. That's how I got so many pictures. (waiting at the light......not honking) :-)

....another great day!

Another wonderful day here in Alabama...........MLC. And!!! another home run with the meal! I am so grateful! We had "loaded potatoes"..........very large baked potatoes, butter, sour cream, barbequed or pulled pork, grated cheese--pepper jack, cheddar, or mozzarella, bacon chips, sliced olives, sauteed mushrooms, steamed broccoli, ranch dressing, chives and more barbeque sauce, if you wanted it. I cannot believe how much food these missionaries can put away!!!!! I thought we would have plenty. Uh.........no! I cooked about 14 pounds of pork............I should have done 18-20 pounds. I've made me some good notes so I will have plenty next time.........like in about six months. Maybe not even that long, as many of the ones there will be home in that time. And at first we thought we would run out of olives--but ended up having extra of those. And I got just two cans!!!! Regular size!! We had a few potatoes left over, but that's okay. I really would rather have a "few" leftovers than cut it as close as we did. And I didn't have anywhere near enough mushrooms, so we didn't even put them out on the table. Sister Hanks made the dessert............Crushed Oreo cookie crust, drizzled with fudge sauce and butter, covered with mint/chocolate chip ice cream with more fudge sauce and cookie crumbs on top. Really good, but way too much fat for my health!! I've taken to "running stairs" in the office building. (well, I exaggerate some with the "run"..........let's say I hurry) It's a three story building, so every now and then I run up the stairs at one end of the building, walk quickly through the hall on the third floor and down the stairs at the other end. Occasionally, I walk the hall on the second floor so I zig-zag through the building. At least it gives me a little exercise.

We had another couple come today to join us: the Robinsons from Heber City, grew up in Laketown!! knows Howard Lamborn--a relative? I think he said he was a school teacher--Howard Lamborn, not Elder Robinson. It is certainly a small world! They are going to serve in the southern part of the mission in a small branch down there. It was really fun when their zone leaders came into the office after MLC............I LOVE THIS!!!!!!! These young people are the best!!! AND I got an email saying my Book of Mormon order has shipped!!!!!! Hooray!!!!! AND! we're getting driving papers for missionaries coming in November and December..........as well as notices that their bikes are ordered!! That's all fabulous news!!! It's been a great day!!!!

wonderful conference!

We have spent a wonderful two days worshiping with the saints in Ensley.......a very small branch in a very old part of Birmingham--the west side. We went for both sessions of conference both days and stayed through the break between sessions to eat with the Elders and those in attendance. Yesterday.......mostly missionaries. Today we had more of the members. It was wonderful!!!! Picture, if you will, a very small building with a "stand" in one end of the carpeted cultural hall with folding chairs instead of benches........padded folding chairs, thankfully. They pulled in two TVs (I don't know if that was because they couldn't get the first one to work......neither worked for the first session on Saturday, so we listened) one for each "side" of the room. Very casual.........and all good friends..........more a family feeling than anything else. We even had a visitor off the street for a while both days......... quietly slipped in and sat and listened for a while and slipped out. Today he heard the end of the first session--"The Spirit of God"--and we invited him to eat with us. After a plate of baked potato and chicken, he quietly slipped away again. A tender, expanding experience.

A day of a few tears, swellings within me, yearnings, and desires to do better............. I hope you had a similar day........though without the homesickness...........

....the cost of love.........

I have been feeling so neglectful...........but there has either been absolutely nothing to write about (almost falling asleep at my desk isn't all that noteworthy)...........or we've been really busy and so tired at night I didn't want to do anything! Now that I look back.......it's been TEN days!!!! and so much has happened!! Last Wednesday, more than a week ago, sorry.........Roger took me to the hospital to see D while he went home teaching. I had an absolutely, totally wonderful visit with her. She cried when I walked into her room. She was all curled up and the room was dark. She'd been having an emotional battle--that would have been the 23rd, the day after she had planned on being baptized. She wanted to do it the 22nd because we wanted something good to think about on that day. She lost her two month old son on that day 25 years ago...........so we talked and cried together and generally "knit our hearts together". Her mom had said she would visit her that day, but then called to say she wasn't coming......and then I came. (What an amazing blessing to be the answer to someone's prayer.) I think I told you she calls me "Mama". She was released from the hospital the next day and was baptized on Sunday. What a wonderful experience for me!!!!!

Pres. and Sister Hanks came and later Sister Hanks defined it beautifully: "a sweet, reverent baptism". D had asked the stake president to be there to confirm her........I think he declined at first, but then said he would. How I wish I had a recording of that blessing for D!!!! I remember much of it, but not all. Such an absolutely wonderful day. And I probably had the best experience fasting I've had in a very long time. That is something I really need to work on.........or maybe I am expecting too much? I don't know.

Then we had to get ready for transfers. We had a really good office meeting Monday morning. I really like those meetings. So grateful I get to be a participant! I asked for media orders from the zone leaders the end of the week, because I knew the whole mission was going to get turned on its ear. One of the Assistants had said this was a big transfer. Thankfully, I got most of them before zone leaders were changed around.

We took the truck and trailer out to the airport Tuesday afternoon to help with the arriving missionaries. SO FUN!!!!!!! Then the training at the mission home...........on task for six hours straight..........tired rabbits here.............

Wednesday was transfer meeting--Roger was driving the truck and trailer again......and we were so tired when it was over. I don't know why it takes so much out of us. Elder and Sister Newman were "exhausted" and had to wait for a sister to come to the office for her bicycle. So Roger and I went to Ensley for the Book of Mormon "class". The Newmans have been doing that, but they didn't come at all the other night. Can't say that I blame them. Sister Newman told me yesterday that she feels like all she does is "put out fires" all day long. I can understand her feeling that way............

Up at 5:00 Thursday morning to help with the returning missionaries. We haul the luggage in the trailer. That was a mixed blessing.............there were a couple of Elders in this group we had worked with in the office and one taught D. Such good young men!! It is hard to have them gone. But so grateful to have had the opportunity to know them. I thought I could have some hard days every six weeks if I'm not careful...........but I don't know what to do about it. That's the cost of love, right?

I started putting all the media orders together yesterday, and was so unhappy and frustrated when I realized that I don't have enough Book of Mormons AGAIN!!!!!!! (I've decided I'm going to call them "Book of Mormons" because we say "Bibles" and don't think a thing about it! We never say "five copies of the Bible"......it's "five Bibles"..........so why not "five Book of Mormons"???) I ordered 15 boxes twice!!! And I still don't have enough!!!! I'm REALLY not happy about it!!! I'm going to have to give everyone one fewer box than they want......and a couple of zones maybe will have to do without two of their order. So............earlier in the week I ordered 30 boxes. And today, when I realized how short I am I ordered 30 more!!!! I am even more skeptical that I will ever really figure this out! AGH!!!!!!!

It has really cooled off.........I was glad to have my jacket on today, and the Elders came in with sweaters on. One of the Assistants is from Honduras and going "home" to Utah. He said, "Sister Stephenson, I'm afraid I'm going to be really cold in Utah." He was cold today in his shirt sleeves. Roger thought it felt good...........but if it continues to cool like this, I can see that we are going to be cold in another month.

Again...........sorry it's been so long since I posted. And sorry this is so .......blah.......... I'm feeling kind of "blah" tonight. I'm tired. And that's part of why I have not posted this week. I've been tired most every night!! Still so very thankful to be here........... and I am learning albeit so slowly.............