hear the calling

email to my granddaughter Acadia serving a in the Oregon Eugene Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

I think about you all the time.  So proud of you.

As you know, things are moving along with your family move.  The good news for me is that we will be able to see your family briefly as they drive to Arizona.  What a trip that is going to be with the cat!  I don't think the details have been worked out, but I THINK we will all be together for dinner Tuesday night before Thanksgiving - Hawaiian Haystacks.  

It is going to be a bit of a different Thanksgiving for some of us.  Your folks at Lucas' cousin's mother's house (so nice of them!) and us at the Patch just us. 

It would be the perfect opportunity for me to do a Thanksgiving thing I like - invite people from the ward who might otherwise be alond, BUT  1) I am feeling not very ambitious and don't want to do a big full on meal alone, 2) part of that is I hope to spend time with at least some of the family Wednesday (working on a scavenger hunt at a nearly abandoned shopping mall), 3) my house is still in a state of more than usual chaos (which is always bad) with the kitchen project rather stagnant, and 4) Miriam does not like the idea.  I am still half considering it.

 

What fascinating things do I have to share this week?

The most impressive thing was I got a mammogram. Smashing. I have heard nothing back yet, so I assume they saw nothing alarming.

I went to a 3D printing class at my local library. Unfortunately, my computer didn’t want to play nice, so I didn’t finish the project. It was not really a class for understanding as much as doing a specific project. I suppose one gains some understanding of the process. I am told that one can go to the website for this 3D program thing and take tutorials for free. Something to add to my Things To Do in my spare time list.

What I need to do is learn Time Management and Self Control.

In Sunday School, our instructor, Tawna, told us about how she had been feeling quite unwell and unable to go to the store for things she needed. She put an order on Amazon Prime and they quickly delivered what she needed right to her door. What feelings of relief and gratitude she felt! She then compared how much more relieved and grateful we should be to our Savior who has provided us something we never could have done for ourselves – the Atonement and path to forgiveness and returning to our heavenly home.

The lesson this last week asked us to think about our own definition of faith. The first word to my mind is Trust. What is the first word you think of?

I heard another song that I really like at the RSVP concert Friday. (RSVP is a singing group Bethany belongs to - but is not performing with this season due to being fit to burst out in baby any time now.  RSVP is a charity organization.  They do free concerts, but each concert season features a local charity for which they solicit donations.  This season, it's Wellspring Women's Center which provides a safe place and counseling for women in difficulties to visit.  Anyway, the song is "Calling My Children Home".  I liked the RSVP version better than any I have found since. 
Those lives were mine to love and cherish
To guard and guide along life's way
Oh God, forbid that one should perish
That one alas should go astray.
Back in the years with all together
Around the place we'd romp and play
So lonely now and oft times wonder
Oh, will they come back home some day.
I'm lonesome for my precious children
They live so far away
Oh, may they hear my calling, calling
And come back home some day.
Love you,  Grandma Barbara

a little over my head

email to Granddaughter Acadia serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Oregon Eugene Mission-

It is thrilling to read of the good you are doing and the good people you are working with. Exciting to think of lives being opened to the goodness and promises of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

One sees the Lord’s hand in how quickly your Vancouver home sold and how quickly your folks found your Chandler home. I admit that a part of me wishes you were staying in the PNW, but we trust the Lord in His love and wisdom. I am sure that wonderful things await you in Arizona.

My replacement phone arrived and I managed to set it up myself without having to ask Joseph for help! My old phone is now the Green Lantern. The wifi works without being connected to my carrier, so I can still get limited use out of it at home. The new phone is much the same, but supposedly with better camera, storage, and battery life. I tried to call a ministering-to sister. We could hardly hear each other. Then I realized that the speaker and microphone are positioned differently and the old phone case (which I really like) covers them. I stuck tiny pieces of plastic under the edge of the cover so the sound is better now.

Friday, the Front Street Animal Shelter hosted Climb for a Cause at Peak Adventures at Sac State. Unfortunately it was during work hours so Joseph missed it. Andrew has Fridays off. He climbed and walked a log walk several feet in the air and then a rope walk that was at least as high. The support people were great.

Sunday was a rare treat. At 9 we went to Hinds’ ward for their Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation and at nooon, Andrew and I went to our ward for our CSMP. Both had me in tears. Brighton Ward (my ward) really scored by having the children sing both “Gethsemane” and “Miracle”.

“Gethsemane” is a most powerful and touching explanation of the atonement. I love that song. I bought the music and choir rights to it when I was Primary President. A couple of weeks ago, our RS 2^nd Counselor used it in the Relief Society lesson. It is awesome. Do you know it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uSGSvKy6Io

“Gethsemane” by Melanie Hoffman

Jesus climbed the hill

To the garden still

His steps were heavy and slow

Love and a prayer

Took Him there

To the place only He could go

Gethsemane

Jesus loves me

So He went willingly

To Gethsemane

He felt all that was sad, wicked or bad

All the pain we would ever know

While His friends were asleep

He fought to keep

His promise made long ago

Gethsemane

Jesus loves me

So He went willingly

To Gethsemane
The hardest thing That ever was done

The greatest pain that ever was known

The biggest battle that ever was won

This was done by Jesus.

The fight was won by Jesus

Gethsemane

Jesus loves me

So he gave His gift to me

In Gethsemane

Gethsemane

Jesus loves me

So he gives His gift to me

From Gethsemane

"Miracle,” new to me this year, is amazing as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ2djzQ9J64

“Miracle”

Lyrics by Shawna Belt Edwards

Jesus walked upon the water

He stilled the storm and calmed the angry sea,

With His hands he healed the leper,

He made the lame to walk the blind to see.

He fed a thousand people with a loaf or two of bread.

And when the ruler’s daughter died,

He raised her form the dead.

Jesus is a God of miracles,

Nothing is at all impossible to Him,

But I know this:

Of all his miracles,

the most incredible must be

the miracle that rescues me!

Jesus bled and died to save me,

A price that I could never pay alone,

When he rose again he gave me,

The greatest gift the world has ever known!

Yes I can be forgiven every time I repent

And someday He will lift me up to live with him again.

Jesus is a god of miracles.

Nothing is at all impossible to him,

but I know this; of all his miracles

the most incredible must be the miracle that rescues me!

The miracle that rescues you and me!

Love you!

Grandma Barbara

rice spa

11/4 email to my granddaughter Acadia serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Oregon -

Plunk. Monday my phone took a spectacular dive landing in the only liquid anywhere close by. From the stove hood to the pot of chicken broth on the back corner. I pulled it out quickly, wiped it down and put it in rice. But it was doomed. It eventually recovered to the point where the phone seemed to function, but the screen was green (horizonatally striped green like old fashioned wall paper) and you couldn’t see anything. After some research, seeking opinions, and wavering forth and back, I have ordered a replacement phone. Joseph managed to get to settings and up the screen brightness to where I can see somewhat through the green curtain. I have learned that I am very technology dependent. I miss my phone.

I told you I have been a little Downton Abbey crazy lately, watching DVDs whenever David and Teresa can come over. On a slight hiatus at the moment as they are in Tracy watching a little nephew and nieces while they get a new sister. But this week, despite still being only half through the series, David, Teresa, Miriam and I went to see the movie. It was good, but not nearly as good as the TV series. Hard to put my finger on exactly, but I often found myself feeling I was watching caricatures of some of the characters. So, will I buy the DVD when it gets to Costco? Oh, probably.

I donated platelets on Halloween. One of my attendants was Vitalant Man. He was fun. And I think the only one who dressed up. He liked my pirate and was full of Arrrs and Ahoys. I told him that it was good sailing with him.

Miriam got 3 tickets to a Disney movie for purchasing Almond Milk in multiples of 3 during a certain time period. Actually, I did the shopping, but she bought and drank it. The tickets expired Halloween, so she, Teresa, and I saw Maleficent – Mistress of Evil. And we learn a little about not judging.

Miriam bought 2 dozen little plastic unicorns and 3 dozen littler plastic dragons to give the neighborhood kids on Halloween. We finished the evening with 4 dragons. I was surprised we had that many Trick-or-Treaters and we were happy to hear many exclamations of delight, even from older Trick-or-Treaters. One of my ministering sisters gave out candy and holiday pencils. She said she could hear the children excitedly telling their parents about the pencils. Something to bear in mind for next year. Kids like little gifts.

Our Sunday School lesson focused on fear preventing us from doing good. What are we afraid of and what can we do about it. It is surprising how fearful we (I) can be sometimes. One of the strangest things is being afraid of repentance. Embarrassed, afraid of the price we will have to pay, afraid we cannot change. The struggle is real. Yet it is silly of us. Embarrassed to confess to God? Like He doesn’t already know. Afraid of the price/punishment/cost of repentance or change? It will only get worse if we don’t. Afraid we cannot change? Christ said that we can with His help which He yearns to give. And yet it seems hard. We need to love and trust the Lord more completely.

Our poor compassionate service leader. Last week she was trying to get people to sign up to bring meals to a pregnant woman with a son in burn center at Shriners Hospital. She gets people lined up and before we take meals in the boy is discharged and they go home. Good news all around. This week she asked us to take meals to one sister and soup to another brother. I was to take something to each of them today. As I was reviewing my recipes (no salt, no cholesterol, no fat for the sister), Lorretta called. The request she saw was an OLD email. The ward had served, the crises had passed, they don’t need food brought in. She was so embarrassed. I laughed and told her that this time we were just being tested for willingness. I hope it is not too wicked to be relieved not to need to actually serve.

There’s still – always – plenty to do. I think I will try to do something useful.

Love you lots!

behind the green curtain

Monday, October 28
My phone took a dive and with great precision landed in the only liquid anywhere close. Now, it is taking a rice (what is the opposite of a bath? no, not shower) treatment. I am not hopeful, but I will check it tomorrow. I feel incomplete and handicapped.
So odd. Not all that many years ago, few people had mobile phones, now they are nearly essential.

Tuesday, October 29
I am nearly crippled without my phone. I started my day thinking it was an hour earlier than it actually was, so I have been running an hour late. Not good when I have meetings and things to do. I hope that rice is doing its thing. (but I fear I am going to have to replace it which means making expensive technical decisions. sigh)

I am quite phone dependent. I keep wanting to ask someone a question, take a picture for notes, check my calendar, etc etc.

24 Hours after the Death Dive, a nice rice soak in Miriam's room which she kept warm for it, I turned on my phone. It reacted slowly, but it turned on! Looked good for a minute or two, then stripes appeared on the screen. Back to the rice bath. But with some hope?

Monday November 4
The days went by.  Phone functionality appeared to return, but behind a thick  green curtain so I couldn't see what was on the screen.   Sunday, Joseph managed to get to settings and up the brightness to its highest level so I can see somewhat and use the phone until I get the replacement.

I looked at several phones.  Two of my daughters have Pixels which they love.  At least one of my friends dreams of having a Pixel.   I found myself torn between a Pixel (possibly 3a) and another Motorola.  Mine is a Moto Z, the replacement would likely be a Moto Z3play.   The Pixel fans love the camera.  The battery does not seem to be any great shakes.  Moto has better battery life, which is important to me. Friday, the Moto was available for $260 while the Pixel 3 was $399.  I almost made up my mind, but decided to sleep on it.  Saturday morning, the Moto Z3play was $500.  ARGH  The Moto Z4 was also $500, with even better battery and more storage. It is supposed to have an improved camera as well.  I ordered the Moto Z4 from my carrier, Republic Wireless.  The Moto Mod Power Pack I already have and the phone case/wallet I have and really like should fit. 

Spending too much money, but I think I will be happy with the phone.  And be careful not to let it jump in chicken broth (or anything else) again.