comings and goings

Teresa's mom lingered longer than expected, but finally passed through the veil Saturday, the 19th.  She was ready.

It was decided that leaders needed to take the Self-Reliance Finances class - the first three sessions.  In order to better understand the program and be better able to refer people who might need it.  First week I was mildly surprised to be reminded that Self Reliance is a spiritual principle.  If I had thought about it, I would have realized. And of course, the Lord has told has that He has not given us any temporal commandments, to Him all things are spiritual.  We learned to track all our financial transactions.  Fortunately, I am already good at that.  Today we learned about counseling with the Lord and with our spouse.  That lesson was less comfortable for me.  It is recommended that if you are single, you counsel with a family member or friend.  I am going pass on that (and therefore not pass that segment. lol) 

This past week

I babysat Sam and Peter for Strauss practice.  With Andrew.  Bless him! Only one evening.  Just wait for Strauss week next week, however!

I drove some girls up to Girls Camp (2 1/2 hour drive each way).  The drive was pretty and the girls were pleasant. 

I took my cat to the vet.  Just shots.  Now I have to license her or be fined $300! My scanner won't work to send a copy of my birth certificate so I either have to drive in to pay it or forfeit my senior discount.  I think I am already late with her license or I could mail a copy. Grr 

I donated platelets (and watched "First Man" about Neil Armstrong,first man to walk on the moon - not a great movie, actually). 

I went to the dentist for the first time in too long.  The hygienist was very nice.

And Saturday I drove to Stockton to watch Molly (Debi's step daughter) in a swim meet.  Swim parents are dedicated! Molly's first race, which I was not there for was at 8:30 am.   Then she raced about 11:30 and again around 1:30.   Fortunately they didn't put her on the relay team for the race that started after 4.   Debi and Lucas have been at swim meets (in town)  pretty much all day, certainly all morning,  almost every Saturday this summer.   I think today was the last as I don't think Molly qualified for Championships next weekend.  Her bio mom goes to every meet, too, and volunteers in the team tent where Debi thinks she hovers too much. ( I do not think the different parent sets interact) This is Molly's 3rd year on swim team.  Apparently she loves it.  I don't know what a family with multiple children would do.  This is time consuming!  But I am glad I finally made it to a meet.

Next week Andrew and I babysit Samuel and Peter 5 nights, 4 of them performance nights and I said I would take them.  Blessings on Andrew!  Sam is good until you tell him it's time to get ready for bed.  Peter is sad the whole evening.  Maybe he will be happy at the Festival.  Or we may have to leave.  I hope I get to see the show!  As I am so not a night person, this is going to be tough.  I am not committing to anything else this week.  I had a doctor appointment scheduled, which I decided to change. 

In  "Come, Follow Me"  I enjoyed Peter and Cornelius this week.  I liked learning that Peter learned to understand his vision bit by bit.  I liked the gospel being for everyone.  I liked that changes in policy and practice have taken place pretty much since the beginning.  I liked Cornelius. 

Who's Ministering To Whom?

Tuesday was a full day!

"Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" at the dollar movies at Arden Fair, "Dress Like A Cow Day" at Chick-fil-A, "Notebooks, &; Stickers, &; Pens — Oh My!" ideas and encouragement on journaling at Relief Society activity meeting.

I recently took some games over to a friend's house where  I was greeted by these conflicting signs.  

Lunch Friday at Sae Jong Teriyaki Restaurant.  Marcia invited me on behalf of herself and Galynn.  She also invited me to invite Holly.  And so it was, the four of us had lunch together.  Marcia and Galynn are my ministering sisters.  I am Holly's ministering sister  Holly is Marcia's ministering sister.  Poor Galynn, no one there was her ministering sister. (She said being with us was being ministered to. ) Galynn and Marcia insisted that they pick up the bill and split it between them, although Holly and I had asked for separate tabs.  I guess that Galynn and Marcia get Ministering points.  We sat and talked until the waiter told us that they were closing and asked us to leave.   (They close for 2-3 hours in the afternoon before re-opening for dinner)

Teresa hurried off to Utah Friday, hoping to arrive before her mother departs this mortal sphere.  Her mom was diagnosed with advanced cancer months ago and was given about 3 months to live.  All of her children came to see her.  Friends and her ward rallied around.  Radiation treatment.  She had a really good two months or so, but then she suddenly went into a decline and they don't think she will rally.  I imagine her surrounded by loved ones on both sides of the veil and hope the transition will be peaceful. 

Friday evening the Relief Society Presidency watched a North America West Area Presidency Broadcast.  Mostly about how we need to ramp up our efforts in gathering scattered Israel.  This was a repeat viewing for the rest of the presidency and a first for me.  We all confessed to feeling overwhelmed at first. I barely manage my life.  My house and yard are both a mess and I barely make any headway.  Not sure I even do.  More like one step forward, two steps back.  But I keep trying. Then there's the calling and the ministering. What about extended family, friends, and dare I dream, hobbies? Now we need to reach out, find, and minister to nonmembers.  We cannot leave it all to the missionaries.  (as wonderful as they are!) So much to do!   However,  these great women of faith testified that if the Lord asks us to do it and an apostle promises angels and miracles, then we can do it.  

I am thinking about  "feed my sheep"  "feed my lambs" "feed my sheep".  Maybe there are the sheep in the fold that still need tending. (Believe me!) The lambs who are new in the gospel - even if they were dipped long ago.   And the sheep in the wilderness that need to be brought in.

The "Come, Follow Me" lesson this week includes the story of Saul. I had not paid much attention to Ananais before. Now I see him. He received a call that seemed  off to him. He neither refused nor blindly obeyed. He expressed his concern humbly and sincerely. Then he obeyed. And received with warm, kind fellowship someone he never would have expected to join the church. How do we react when a wild looking sheep approaches the fold neither looking or smelling like a member of the flock? 

I like Saul's reaction when being called out, too. Instead of collapsing and wailing, "I'm dead and damned!" He asks what the Lord would have him do. 

Can you imagine how awkward it might have been when his friends and family learned of his complete turn around?  Although, I think he probably did not go back to them.

Now, I do think that a big personal vision gives one a big edge up in conversion. Precious few if us get the dramatic experience. Would it change our response? I would think so, but maybe not.  So why do some people get angels and bright lights while most if us get a quiet feeling?  If it would make a big difference in our decision and how we lived our lives, would it be fair?  From an October 1976 talk by Neal A. Maxwell, then of the First Council of the Seventy: "In the economy of heaven, God does not send thunder if a still, small voice is enough, or a prophet if a priest can do the job." Some of us may need a mightier message, but it is whether we really accept the message that makes the difference. Maybe it would not really change things. Laman and Lemuel had angels and miraculous shocks, but they got over it. What does it take for me to listen?

In her talk "Careful vs Casual" Becky Craven reminds us that the river of filthy water flows NEAR but not TO the Tree of Life. I reflect that many people of seemingly good intent both in and out of the church disagree on many points and often back their argument with scriptures - even the very elect might be deceived. Of course, we each think it's the other guy, but ...We must be humble and strive diligently to discern truth.

Legos, Cows (?), and Journals Tuesday, July 9, 2019

"Lego Movie 2: The Second Part" at the dollar movies at Arden Fair, "Dress Like A Cow Day" at Chick-fil-A, "Notebooks, & Stickers, & Pens — Oh My!" ideas and encouragement on journaling at Relief Society activity meeting.

In case of lightening: lay flat, get down on your knees, or run towards the last strike?

 It is easy to look around and say, "I have got to get rid of this clutter!"  But when it comes to individual items, it gets hard. very, very hard

Andrew and I sorted games - keep, maybe keep (lol), give away, trash (after possible salvaging). Some games require brief testing before we futher decide. I am shocked at how many variations of Monopoly we have - especially as I personally don't much care for the game. Classic, Millennium Edition, UBuild Monopoly (put together a 30, 60, or 90 minute track), Monopoly Deal Card Game. And yet, when Andrew volunteered that we could give up the Millennium Edition, I said no, it's such a nice game set - metal box, nice metal pieces, transparent house and money - pretty ritzy. Even so, we slightly reduced our game collection and are renewing our acquaintance with the ones that we are keeping so maybe we will play more.

  It took some doing, but we did get some games, cookbooks, and a small amount of never used kitchen tools to the DI trailer.  At first the trailer was not at the church as the Stake Calendar said it would be.  A few emails and phone calls resulted in the trailer being put in place on Friday the 28th instead of the previous Tuesday.  I took another small stack of games to the home of a single mother.  Leaving us with keeps and maybe keeps.  Actually, even the keeps are maybes, but more likely the maybes are keeps.  We can always decide to pass them on later.

Sunday, the 30th.  David, Teresa, Joseph, Andrew, and I tested "The Survival Game" and "Global Pursuit".  Both games were voted  keep.  Odd survival questions and one might despute some of the "correct" answers.  Global  Pursuit has 4  five piece globe puzzles - People and Places, People and Products, Historical, and Geographic.  They can be played building the individual world maps or mixing them which is what we did.    Friday we tested UBuild It Monopoly playing the "30 minute game".  It took almost 30 minutes setting up the starter track and we played for over an hour.  Which, admittedly is still shorter than a regular Monopoly game.  Teresa, who like  me is not a Monopoly fan,  laughed and laughed throughout the game.  (although much of the time she was laughing at me and my game grumblings) I think we are keeping it as well.   I am looking forward to more game testing.  : )

Saturday the 29 was a Family Picnic Day all the better because it was Aurora's last day here in California.  We had reserved the Group Picnic area at Shasta Park because it is a nice picnic area right next to a cool playground and close to a library with real restrooms.  However when I arrived by 11 as required by our reservation contract, I found the playground closed and fenced.  The playground next to our picnic area and the one on the other side of the other picnic area - both closed and fenced!  There followed a lot of texting between the various households as we decided what to do and where to go.  Every time someone suggested a place, I asked for someone to go see if there were picnic tables available.  I was not leaving until I knew where we would be able to gather.  We ended up at Tahoe Park.  A great park and where we usually seem to go.  We actually saw very little of Aurora.  She and the other kids spent most of the time enjoying the park and playground.

I complained to the parks department and got a free replacement  reservation for Tahoe Park on August 10, one of the few days that Debi might be able to join us and there was park availability. (Shasta was already fully booked pretty much every Saturday)

I feel like I have been plenty busy (at a slow Grandma pace with occasional naps) but I have pretty much nothing else to report.  One day Andrew and I did another "Ministering Bike Ride"  - we each write letters to our people and then bike together delivering them.  Exercise and ministering.  It's about a  9 mile ride or so.

A Flag Raising and Pancake Breakfast on the Fourth of July.   Dinner that day was a red, white, and blue salad - greens buried under red strawberries, white chicken meat and feta cheese, and blueberries  served with raspberry vinaigrette. Also blueberry muffins.  We have yet to get to the watermelon and blue tortilla chips.   On the West Sacramento River Walk we enjoyed the fireworks display for Raleys Field Fourth on the Field.

Our Come, Follow Me lesson this week followed the apostles when they were first on their own after Christ's ascension.  They were ready.  Ready to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and lead the church by inspiration and revelation.  Ready to spread the Word.  Ready to stand before judges and even to rejoice in suffering for Christ's sake as He suffered for ours.  Personally, I need to learn to be more receptive to the Holy Ghost - to learn to recognize promptings and to act more promptly.  And while I want to have strong testimony like theirs, I am considerably less eager to face the tests they faced.  I hope I don't have to, but if I do, I pray that my faith will be strong.  As I have been reading in an addiction recovery book, we cannot wait for the battle to become battle ready.  We must prepare and train, train constantly.  We need to study and practice.

I thought we should lie down if caught out in a lightening storm and I was not alone, but I was wrong.  Get down on your hands and knees with your head down.  Really?  That was the game answer if I remember right. 

 Actually, I think we are supposed to crouch.  Although getting down on one's knees would serve a dual purpose!      
How to Survive Lightening
How to Survive Lightening

Klamath Falls Sibling Retreat 2019.06 sibling Picture

All my mother's living children got together, but one of us was missing- Gordon died from brain cancer long ago. Gone, but not forgotten. We took a photo leaving space for him and Lainee photoshopped him in.

Ha ha! I didn't realize we arranged ourselves youngest to oldest. From left to right:
Gordon, Kris, Jay, Lainee, Michael, me.

Levi, our camera man, said "Silly Faces"

Gary, Kris, Jay, Lainee, Brian, Michael, Debi, me

Klamath Falls Sibling Retreat Drive Home 2019.06.20

 

 Thursday, drive home day, was another lovely day.  I realized that with my phone mounted behind my steering wheel for using the map, I could take pictures of what I saw as I drove.  The Volcanic Legacy National Scenic Byway is a beautiful drive.

 

There was a problem somewhere on the Volcanic Legacy National Scenic Byway.  First we - lots of cars and trucks - sat and waited for a length of time.  Then a highway man drove along the line informing us that the road was closed indefinitely.  He had no idea when it would re-open.  He could not give us directions to detour.  He suggested we get out our smart phones or follow other cars.  Fortunately I was close to a turn off to another little highway and followed others off on it.  I stopped to consult my phone.  My phone led me to this little dirt road and then another and finally back to the backed up highway.  After that I turned around and ignored my phone.  I knew that eventually I would reach I-5

I did, of course, find I-5.  Which was nice because whle I was stocked up on food and water, had plenty of gas, and was enjoying the day, there was one necessity that Gracie did not provide.  Besides, it is good to get out, unkink, and look around. 

The landscape changes

 

A shady, pretty, spot to take a safety break - somewhere off the freeway on the way to Dunsmuir.

 

The traffic on I-5 going north was backed up for miles and miles. I was glad the south bound lanes were clear. 

 

Klamath Falls Sibling Retreat 2019.06.19

Since Mike & Debi and Gary & Kris were checking out of the hotel at 11, we met at Black Bear Diner at 11:15.  Breakfast for some, lunch for others.  I had the Bacon Cheeseburger Salad. 

I think the north returning couple had thought to take off straight from there, but first we back to Lainee's to take a picture, hopefully with a picture of Gordon, our deceased brother.  We didn't have any big pictures of Gordon, so we decided that we would take a picture leaving a space for him and then Lainee would photo shop him in from one of the pictures Kris brought.  I hope she is able to send our copies soon.

Mike  and Deb headed out - eager to get home to their lonely kitty.  Kris, Lainee, and I broke out our computers so Kris could update some of her information on Family Search.  I updated a little, too, but we mostly worked on Kris's and Lainee's.

As Mike and Debi left, we all hugged.  Then Gary announced that he was leaving but his wife Kris, sitting at her computer, protested.  I exclaimed, "He just wants hugs." and I was right. 

Jay also departed. 

After Gary and Kris left,  Lainee and I just chatted until they took me to dinner at Black Bear Diner.  I had an Old Fashioned Cheeseburger.  Both times the burger was a bit dry and overdone.  I think Wendy's burgers are better.  Then we said our goodbyes. 

Not a lot to write, but a good day.  Lainee suggests we do this again next year.  We all want to Siblings Retreat again and not too far in the future.  I told her I don't know if I can every year. But it is a good thing.

Klamath Falls Sibling Retreat 2019.06.18

First breakfast: sausage and eggs at 7.   Then sort out my meds -my daily medicine box fell and exploded Monday.  I picked up the pills and put them in a plastic box for sorting during the quiet time before meet up in the morning.  Followed by a little bit of Relief Society Secretary work.

Still not really hungry by the time we met at the Waffle Hut for (2nd) Breakfast.  I had a bowl of fruit.  The most popular breakfast today was Chicken Fried Steak - with eggs, hash browns, and toast.  Apple something Waffle was also popular.  I was almost sorry that I had eaten earlier such were the praises for the Chicken Fried Steak, but as the servings were generous, I got a nice little sampling that Lainee could not finish.  :)

We doubled up in cars and drove to Crater Lake.  On the way up, Jay and I rode with Brian and Lainee while Gary and Kris rode with Mike and Debi.  We did passenger swap for the ride home.  We spend much of our time there in a comedy of errors as the different groups tried to locate each other
and missed - partly due to a misunderstanding or two and also because of poor phone receptions so messages were not sent/received timely.

Me and Lainee

Crater Lake is beautiful and amazing.  There is not much to DO but look at the lake.  The lodge has a nice balcony with rocking chairs overlooking the lake. Inside the lodge on the elevator landings there are a chair or two by open windows (as I found out while looking for the balcony in the wrong part of the lodge)  One can hike when the trails are not closed due to snow.  The lake is a collapsed mountain.  The sides are steep.  One does not, for instance, walk down to the lake. Part of the year, one can drive - or even bike - around the lake.  There are supposedly stunning vista points.  One cannot, however, drive around the lake currently.  Parts are still closed due to snow.  There was snow on the ground  by the lodge, gift and snack shop and visitors center.  Not fresh, fluffy snow.  Tired, slowly melting snow. But white real snow.  The air was so cool and refreshing!  Enjoyed the movie in the Visitors Center except when I feel asleep and woke myself up snoring.

Part of the year (not yet) Boat Tours are available including time on Wizard Island the little volcano in a lake in a volcano.  They involve a "moderately" strenuous hike down to the water and back up again.  Did I mention the sides are steep? That would be a great excursion, but I don't think I will try it even if I am here again when they are running.

Back in Klamath Falls our dinner was left over potluck supplemented by some KFC. (Thanks Mike)  Then we played Attack UNO and Sleeping Queens.  Personally, I prefer Sleeping Queens.  I again pulled my tired old not a night owl routine and left while the games were  in full swing.  Happily those who had expressed reluctance to play Sleeping Queens - when they didn't know what it was -  appeared to be enjoying it quite well.

Klamath Falls Sibling Retreat 2019.06.17

When we exchanged Facebook greetings on Siblings Day, Lainee suggested a Sibling Retreat at her home this summer.  We all agreed.

Sunday, June 16 after taking my Patch mates home from church I headed north.  A lovely, sunny day.  I couldn't really tell you if it was hot outside because I like to have the air conditioning on most of the time.  I have said I would happily drive a refrigerator.  Well, it was quite warm somewhere around Redding when I stopped for a brief break - empty me and refill my water bottle.  Gracie made it to the hotel in one tank of gas as I hoped.

I think Lainee had envisioned a big sleep-over, but Mike & Debi, Gary & Kris, and I each decided to take a room at a nearby hotel.  We have rooms next to each other.  Pretty sure Lainee arranged that.   Arriving at Cimarron Inn, I found a nice surprise which Lainee also arranged for us.

 

Mike and Debi had arrived earlier and went over to play with Lainee and Jay.  I checked in around 8 or so and just wanted to rest and relax.  Gary and Kris made it somewhere around 11.

We had thought to meet up at the hotel breakfast at 8, but the night owls and late arrivers decided to take a more relaxed course and changed the meeting time to 9:30 at the Black Bear Diner.  For some reason I have long been attracted by the highway signs I have seen for the Black Bear Diner and wanted to try them.  oh, good.  Something to check off my list.  If I had a list.

Miriam predicted  that I would have breakfast and 2nd breakfast.  I woke up around 5:30. No, I got up at 5:30 after a couple of premature awakenings as is somtimes my wont.  Lazily showered and dressed.  Had sausage and eggs at the breakfast room around 7.  Not a big fancy breakfast spread, but not bad.  Oatmeal, biscuits, other bread stuffs, sausage and eggs.  No fruit. 

At Black Bear Diner, I simply had a bowl of fruit.  The others, who had not eaten eggs and sausage earlier, had beautiful looking breakfasts.  I think Bears Benedict was the most popular choice.  The service was slow;  I guess everything is cooked up fresh. Everyone enjoyed the food very much. The waiter was courteous and kind and took our picture.

We strolled a bit in Moore Park by Upper Klamath Lake.  Beautiful weather, lovely park, beautiful view, millions of midges! Midges, harmless, non-biting, TINY flies.  So thick they looked like haze on the hilll.  Got in people's nostrils.  Sandals became slippery and toes dark with tiny crushed bodies.  Shortened our stroll somewhat.

Lainee tried to interest us in a writing activity for which she would provide the prompt, but enthusiasm was limited.  So we went on to an art project she hd planned.  Art therapy.  There is no right or wrong way for it to look.  Draw in your own style, as you see or feel it.  We were to draw a tree with a box nearby, but before you put pencil to paper, here is the over view:  Your Story Tree 1)in the roots of the tree  write where you came from -  specific or big picture, emotionally, whatever you want to put. 2) On the trunk, write a word that describes how you view your life, your journey on earth.  3) On each branch, write a dream, aspiration, wish, goal, want.  4) Draw a leaf for each person who has had a profound and positive effect on you.  5) For each leaf, add a flower or a fruit and write the gift that person gave you.  6) Seeds represent the legacy you hope to leave, things you want to be remembered for, how you want people to think of you.  7) In the foreground around the tree write the things you choose to do - not what you feel you have to do, what is expected of you, what you should do, but what you choose to do, want to do, love to do.  8) The box is your compost box where you will put the negatives, things that have been difficult, things you have removed from your life, are working on overcoming, or plan to remove.   We had a sheet of paper for jotting notes to ourselves about our tree, another to do an initial sketch, and a GREAT BIG sheet of water color paper to do the actual drawing.  We would black ink the final lines. Then do a watercolor technique to color it.   I think one or two got to the sketching stage.  At least one walked out,  One fell asleep, which inspired me to go take the nap that was trying to take me. Me, I need time to process it.  And I don't think I can do the big tree.

After my nap we went to the Lighthouse Yogurt Company.  I was good.  I had a small no-sugar added yogurt (the Elvis, peanut butter and chocolate flavored) with strawberries and almonds.  6 of the flavors offered are being retired today with 6 new ones on Tuesday.  There is some talk of returning.  But there is also talk of driving to Crater Lake.  I am not sure both are possible.

Having had dessert, we went home and broke out our potluck dinner.  Chicken, refried type beans, broccoli salad, tuna pasta salad,  corn on the cob, ranger cookies.  Did I forget something?

Between the 5 of us siblings, 4 biodads are represented.  Some of us have had our DNA tested. We started talking about our ethnic make ups, how we compare with each other, and why in the world do our DNA reports not necessarily match what we expected.  Michael does not think the tests are reliable and the evidence seems to back him.  We need to do more research.  If I were rich I would have DNA testing done by multiple companies just to see how they compare.

Jay is the only one who seemed disappointed that the Talent Show was cancelled.  He brought out at least half  dozen wood flutes, told us a bit about each of them and played them a little.

The genealogy type discussion continued with several laptops being fired up as we explored Family Search and / or Ancestor.com and Kris (a family research consultant) helped the less experienced. Jay mentioned that Kris was sharing one of her talents.  By then I was dragging and I retired to the hotel.

We are different, but accepting each other and not trying to change each other.  Jay wants to come down for a week and help me with some of my house projects before he starts cancer treatment.  I was surprised how much gospel / scripture references made it into regular conversation.  My siblings and I had been raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I THINK only Kris and her husband Gary and I are active.  It seems some of the teachings linger.  Or at least provide a common reference at times.

In Her Shoes

Quite an enjoyable Relief Society activity last evening. "In Her Shoes". An interesting variety of shoes and their stories. There was a pair of rain boots from Russia. Ok, they were made by a Finnish company, but bought in Russia. There were shoes from sisters who are or have been runners, including running marathons and half marathons. One sister had her custom made big blue Mary Jane clown shoes. There were tap shoes, shoes worn to a sister's sister's wedding across the pond, shoes of a nurse in training, a few pairs of hiking boots - one that had been worn while the sister was lost in the desert and had a spiritual experience; a pair that was over two decades old, had hiked with family, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. and planned to be left to a granddaughter in the not too near future. Shoes worn to a husband's graduation from the FBI Academy. Shoes that were worn as a temple worker and that have walked the halls of temples all over the country. There was a written tribute to shoes now gone. Theatrical references. I wore Crocs and related that I have been compared to a pair of old shoes - comfortable and I make everyone else look better.  We laughed, we even cried a little. It was quite an exercise. And there were cupcakes that looked like shoes. (I refrained)