Jacob's Birthday 2010

Jacob's friends came to Time Out Pizza Wednesday night for his Friend's Party. The beautiful bike was given to him by his Grandma in Pocatello.

Mission Completed

It has been over a month since our mission at the LDS Employment Resource Center was completed. We have learned a lot of new things. As we served we found there were skills needed that we hadn't anticipated but were made equal to. Sometimes the most important thing we could do was listen, offer encouragement and suggest new ideas.

One of the practices we have continued at home is the morning devotional. We would arrive at the office early so we could read a scripture, have a spiritual thought and prayer for the day. We often prayed specifically for those we were working with. We would pray for inspiration and guidance and that those who entered the office, whether member or nonmember, would feel the spirit of the Lord there.

We have recognized special blessings that have come to us as we served this mission. We were blessed to work with some wonderful brothers and sisters in the gospel. We formed special bonds with them. We love our former mission companion couple, Jeff and Jackie Behling. We felt love and compassion for all those who came to the office seeking our services.

As we were issued the call, I had a fleeting concern about affording the gas to travel to Moses Lake three times a week and sometimes four times if there were special meetings, or the need to visit individual wards for training specialists. It has been interesting to note how the Lord provided. Not only was our monthly gasoline bill SMALLER during our mission, but Phil was given MORE opportunities to work during our days off than he had in any of the previous years since retirement. Our cup literally "runneth over".

Learning to be confined in an office and using the computer was challenging and new to Phil while going back into an office again was challenging for me. Even though it was an unexpected calling that blindsided us a bit, it turned out to be the right timing for us, because it was the period prior to the introduction of the new website and the changing roles of the Resource Center. Phil learned enough about the computer to do his job during our mission and I survived the stress of coordinating the office, but the new changes require a lot more skills than previously. Again, saying "yes" to this call to serve was the right thing for us and the right timing.

Most important, perhaps, is we were able for the first time in over 50 years to spend time together. Phil has always had two jobs and was gone most of the time. The daily confinement took some adapting for both of us and we made each other crazy for awhile. Now I enjoy the opportunities we have to work on projects together...opportunities we never really had in the past.

It's been my experience over the years that the Lord tests us to see if we will "do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them". (Abraham 3:25) How often He calls us to serve Him just as we have made plans for, and are looking forward to, accomplishing something entirely different, something we have longed to do for a long time, and something our heart is set on. Therein lies the test. So often what He asks is NOT what I want to do and is always hard work, requiring me to grow in some new area I least desire to change. Submitting my will to His is not easy for me...leaving skid marks is the norm, but when I choose to follow His plan for me the resulting blessings have always been greater than they would have been if I had followed my own preferred path, and always not what I would have supposed. When I look back and acknowledge that truth, the pain, disappointment, feelings of loss, impatience, frustration and foot-stamping tantrums experienced prior to yielding my will become a source of private embarrassment. So, obedience is greater than sacrifice. The green path doesn't climb, neither does it strengthen us. It's that darn rocky, steep, uninviting one that He keeps pointing to! But He has always walked with me on that one...with me whining all the way!

Know Your Family History Post

Anyone out there recognize this home? Our children should. It's ok, go ahead and guess...there should be SOME comments!!!

January Project

We've been waiting for many years to be able to complete my sewing room. It happened this month! Unless you saw the original it's hard to appreciate the current.

December Memories...the sweet and the sad.

December is a a sweet time for our family as we rejoice in the birth of our Savior, enjoy a time of extra service and giving in His memory. We also celebrate two family birthdays; Jonathan's on the 12th and Teresa's on the 19th.

The sad times are the two deaths we have experienced in December. First, our granddaughter, Amanda, on Jonathan's birthday in 1997 and now my brother, Preston, on Teresa's birthday 2009.

Both events were incredibly painful. However, we have found the deaths in no way intrude on our celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is His birth and His atoning sacrifice that gives us the strength to carry the loss of our loved ones. It deepens our reverence for Him and gives us hope as we look forward to a future reunion with all those we love. We give thanks.

Jacob's Piano Recital

Jacob had his first piano recital at a Retirement Center in Ephrata. I was surprised how confident he was playing in front of a group in a place he had never been. Georganna Wilfong is his teacher and she knew me and my family when I was about ten years old and we lived in Orofino, Idaho.
Another important item is Mrs. Wilfong was also Jon's piano teacher when he was a young boy. It was a special time for all of us...and Aleigha was determined not to be left out.

School Christmas Program 2009

It's been a lot of years since I went to Columbia Ridge Elementary School for a Christmas Program. Jacob is the tall student in front of Africa. Light refreshments were served in Jacob's classroom by the students after the program. This is one of those fun blessings that come with being a Grammie. It brought back a lot of memories.

December 12, 2009

Jon's birthday party at Time-Out Pizza.

Our Budding Hostess.

November fun. Looking in on Aleigha's "herb tea" party. She even matches the dish colors.




























Then, big brother was invited and he was "poured" a cup. Hum-m, she's three. She will be ready for formal dinner parties shortly.

A November Project

Finally. New flooring in the kitchen and sewing room downstairs. I think we installed the old flooring in 1986, so it was time for an upgrade.

Tom & Jerry

Tom and Jerry came to our house tonight. Chasing candy instead of each other!!!

This posting should have come AFTER the following one, but I wasn't planning my next posting ahead of time. In the top photo, Rosemary is on the left and I am on the right. In the bottom one I am on the left. My costume, which my mother made, was red velvet with sequins, hers was aqua with sequins. We both had matching "beanies" on our heads. The pictures were taken at Rosemary's house, which was next to ours, in Sarasota, Florida.

When my cousin, Rosemary, was five and I was six, we were a dance team and this building in Sarasota, Florida was where we performed our recitals. The dances we did were called "Acrobatic Ballet".

When I was in Florida this summer, Terri and I visited this old cemetery with my cousin, Rosemary Whitted Foreman. Grandparents from both sides of my family and many other relatives are buried here. It was a great experience to see my cousin again and to show Terri where family is buried.

Pictures from the Past

My cousin, Rosemary, drove Terri and I around Sarasota, Florida to see some "childhood memory" places. This is the corner of DeSoto Road and Lockwoodridge Road in Sarasota. I used to stand on that corner to catch the bus when I was in the 1st, 2nd and part of the 3rd grade. My Grandmother owned the lots at that time. I was standing near her house when I took this picture last month. There was no traffic signals then...over 60 years ago...and little traffic. At that time it was five miles out of town. Not so now.
Below is Fruitville Elementary School which I attended those years. My brother, Preston, went
to school there also. It has been expanded and is still in use. It is interesting to note on the plaque visible over the door, it says "In God We Trust". Love it!

Phil's Sense of Humor

Here's the story. The little garden set needed to be welded and painted for years. While I was gone on the trip to Arizona/Florida...he got the job done and took a picture that one of the kids was supposed to put on my blogspot to surprise me. It didn't happen, but here is the garden set, with the ADDITION of a stuffed gorilla Phil bought long ago at a garage sale. It has ridden in his truck in the passenger seat, unexpectedly confronted overnight guests entering the guest room, and scared grandchildren who have stumbled on it. Never know where it will turn up. He has too much fun with it.

Sunflowers!

I love sunflowers. Mine are all volunteers from one, previous year's planting. Some of them are taller than the house. They have grown in the most unusual places this year. Sometimes it has been hard to convince Phil that it's alright for them to grow in that particular place...like the one in his garden.

Papa's Hat

Aleigha and Jacob found Pop Pop's hat and I had to record the outcome. (There is no guarantee that I will be able to continue uploading pictures. Terri had to figure it out again today.)

I fixed it!!

Yes, we have pictures!!!

This is the New Shed!!! Awesome!!

Phil, Ready for work.

Okay, as you can see we have pictures again.
It only took me 3 hours to figure it out!
Won't my mommy be so proud of me!!

I love you mom!!!

Problems Again!!

Heavy Sigh!! Problems with uploading photos again. So, it will be awhile before I can show Terri and Teresa the Father's Day tie worn by the Dad as was promised. Also, no picture of the completed tool shed for now. Argh-h-h-h!!