Our Thanksgiving

This was her off here this year so the kids all went to the in-laws on Thanksgiving day.  Again I had a nice quiet day we went play pickle ball in the morning till about 11 and then we came home and had a nice big breakfast what kept us for the rest of the day were even skipped dinner just snapped a little.  We played games Farkle and watch the movie together.  The Burbidge family text Friday morning and said they were on their way up to the lake they arrived here about 10:30 AM on Friday we were able to spend the day with them the Thomas family got here late afternoon in the Noriega family arrived about 10 PM Friday night.  I tried to get the Chaudhry family to come up but they didn’t manage to make it.  We had fun  playing games Friday night.  I get up early to start cooking or Thanksgiving dinner about 4:30 am. I wanted to get the bulk of the casserole dishes and made while it was quiet all the noise of the kids running around makes me a little nervous so I enjoyed my quiet time in the morning while everybody was still sleeping cooking for a Thanksgiving dinner.  We finally ate about 2:30 PM that day it’s a lot of work getting things ready,  after dinner we went and played Pickleball.  It was all of fun.  I was beat after that had to sit down and rest after I cleaned up the kitchen. We had a full day.  I had to get up early this morning for Ward Council I stay for sacrament Noriega family came to sacrament is well I then came home so I can visit with the family that was leaving around noon.  Tasha was packing up and the Burbidge family was already gone they were on the road by 10 AM this morning so I missed saying goodbye to them.  House is quiet now and is able to tidy things are they all left team is pretty clean.  Craig had to stay after church for tithing settlement so I’ve got a few hours of quiet time I’m already missing our family.  When I did have a nice family Thanksgiving gathering this year.  I’m starting to feel much better still finding a little congestion been a lot better than I was last Sunday.  Boston all turned out.  We had lots of yummy food !! 

Missed Church

I have not felt well all week long.  I stayed home from church.  I missed not going.  It was the Primary program today.  The kids had fun in sharing time.  They played a game where they got to cut the Bishoprics tie this is  cute picture of Craig with his cut tie.  I’m starting to feel better but not well enough to attend church.  I have not wanted to spread my germs to anyone this time of year.  I felt well enough I kept busy while Craig was at church tiidying things up from my week of being sick.  I was able to get a couple of loads of laundry done and cleaned our messy bathroom.  It felt good to our things back in order.  You can sure tell when I’m under the weather by the things not done, that I do daily had piled up.  I have worked on my mother’s history all week when not sleeping.  I’ve got thing organized and put in order to continue the project.  I woke up early this morning, so I can work on it for awhile.  

Working On My Mother’s History

Last Sunday I started gathering things up to work on the history of my mother that I started back in 2014.  I feel the need to keep it going on it again.  I have worked on it all week long.  I have not felt well all week.  I manage to color my hair and wash it on Tuesaday in time to attend young women’s.  I wore a sick mask to opening mutual.  I did not want to pass my germs on to anyone if Incan help it.  It started out with a terrible sore throat and has progressed into sinus cold Symptoms with a cough and body aches.  I have slept a lot and when not sleeping worked on mom’s history.  It has taken time to organize the pictures I have gathered over the years and put in chronological order.  I have a great start.  Refamiliarized myself with what I have done.  I have tried to get mother to help me but she hasn’t been very helpful.  I have heard the stories over and over so I think I can write it.  I will try to pick her brain as I have questions. It has been overwhelming at times slowly but surely I’m making progress.  I need to buckle down and stick to the task.  Mom is 81 this past year and her health is not good.  I would like to get volume one printed and give to her for a gift this Christmas.  I’m up to 1962 the year Michele my sister was born.  I would like to complete volume one with the birth of Tommy December 4th 1969 -  I turned 13 yrs old on January 1st 1970.  See how full this fist volume will be.  I have made great progress this week with me being sick and staying home all week it has been a great way to spend my time.  I have gone any where all week long only to the church on Tuesday evening.  I have progressively gotten worse since then.  Today I can tell I’m feeling a little better.  Can’t believe it is Saturday!! The week has gone by quickly.  I don’t see me going to church tomorrow just not feeling well enough.  Going to use my time to keep writing 

First Snow

November 17th - I woke up this morning to snow!! Our first snow fall for the year.  It is really pretty on the trees this morning.  Puts me in the mood for Christmas with the new fallen snow.  

Young Women Presidency Meeting November 11, 2018

Women in Excellence went well/ need to Focus more in helping yw accomplish personal progress values this upcoming year 2019,  plan activities with a purpose in mind to help accomplish value experiences.  

Value theme - each month highlighted to go alone with come follow me theme lessons on Sunday.  This month choice & accountability- orange  - Lesson theme Spiritual and temporal Self Reliance .  Kyli introduced the theme lesson for the month November 4 for all young women-

November 11 Tia taught lesson - I'm I converted ? 

Not Feeling Good

My throat got worse as the night progressed.  I feel really bad today.  A darn cold with a swore throat has  kicked in.  I’m resting in bed today.  Have spent time reading thru my young women handbook.   Learning how to fullfill my calling better.  We had a great presidency meeting Sunday evening.  My secretary is pregnant and very ill she is just checking out for for the time being until she feels better.  I remember those days, not fun at all, very difficult being sick and trying to care for smalll children.   Hope I feel well enough to attend mutual tonight.  

Monday

Hard to believe it is already the middle of November.  I had a very busy sabbath day yesterday. Up at 6:30 am to get ready for My morning Bishop counsel meeting.  Craig & I attended the Spanish speaking sacrament.  It was very spiritual for me even though I could not speak Spanish.  Surprising we have enough Spanish speaking saints at Beat lake to host their own meetings.   It is very small.  We only had two young women show up so I didn’t teach a lesson, let Tia teach the two beehives.  I got home about 12:15 pm.  We had leftover from the meal I had fixed for the missionaries on Saturday night.  I made yummy spaghetti.  A family favorite recipe from Dave that he learned to make on his mission to Spain.  It has Italian sausage and pepperoni in it.  I work several hours on my mother’s life history.  I feel the need to get back to it.  I stated working on it 4 years ago.  I took the time to review what I have done and started working on it again.   I had to quit in order to attend a young women presidency meeting at 5:30 pm.  Our meeting lasted a couple of hours, we had a lot to talk about.  Home  sweet home it has been along day.  Today Craig woke me up at 5:45 am.  Bright & early!! I spent the entire morning cleaning out my young women stuff.  My bag that I carry all my young women things in was stuffed.  I needed to take the time to weed things out.  I worked on it till noon.  I managed to get a 30 minute workout in on the elpitical trainer. Listening to the Book of Mormon while I workout. I then work on my mother’s history  for a short time, seeing where I have left off.  I have lots to do still. It is going to be a working process for a while. I do feel that I need to start working on completing the first volume.  I’m so tired I’ve got to take a nap after getting out of the hot tub.. I have a sore throat coming on! 

Dr Appointment-

I scheduled a dematogist appointment with dr Oreme this Thursday.  Wednesday I spent the day working around the cabin and I wore myself out.  I finished my fall decorating.  I love the fall months with the cooler weather and look forward to Thanksgiving, even though it is our off year.  I invited the kids to come the weekend after Thanksgiving to gather as a family.   So far Trisha, Tasha are coming.  Craig and I got up early Thursday morning and got out work out in and then heading to salt lake for my dr appointment.  He dropped me off and headed to the car dealership to get the oil changed and some new tires on my car for the winter months coming. 

Temple Sealings

Saturday November 3rd we went to the Logan temple to complete family sealings I have been working on the past year.  It was a very spiritual experience for me sealing families together for all eternity.  I felt their presences there for many of them.  Fun to come home and review the names.  We went to the temple with our game night group this month, the Caldwell’s, Lynhart’s and Hislop’s.  I was saving the family names to attend with our married children but it has been over a year and it is so hard getting everyone together, I felt I needed to get them done.  I love working on my family history, I have limited time to work on it with my young women calling.  But viewing the family names I have submitted I’m accomplishing more that I thought this past year by small and consistent efforts I’m accomplishing great things, little pockets of time, I keep working on my family names.  There is so much to do!! But I love working on it!!! 

Finished Reading the Book of Mormon

I finished reading the Book of Mormon !!! I wanted to finish it by our Women Program, with discouragement I had a set back a few days but I I finished Monday morning.   Now I’m on to reading it again to complete the challenge from conference by the Prophet to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year.  I was in Alma when he gave the challenge so I wanted to complete it and then start over.  There are 239 chapters in the Book of Mormon that means I need to read 4 1/2 chapters in the next 55 days to read by the end of the year.  I listened to 8 chapters today while I worked out.  So onward!!   Tuesday I finished all of 1st Nephi 22 chapters and on to 2 Nephi-  I’m enjoying listen to it while I work out.  

Young Women In Excellence

I gusss I’m really not done even though I felt like it on Monday.  Craig and I had a long talk on Tuesday night and helped me to make sense out of my struggles with the young women.  I visited with Rose that morning and apologies for my over emotional  over reaction.  The Bishop came over that morning and him & Craig gave me a blessing which I have been over due.  I have not had a blessing with this calling sent I was set apart over a year ago.  They have Rose a blessing too, all my leaders have been discouraged.  Trying to hang in there and have patience with my life and calling.  I’m terribly home sick which doesn’t help my emotions.  Sunday November 4th- we had a lovely program.  I felt things went smoothly, I was very cautious not to make any waves so speak with Aly my Laurel.  I wanted her to know she was doing a great job and it all turned out very nice.  I spoke and the Bishop spoke we then had each young women leader talk a small part about our young women values that went along with our theme. “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass”. Alma 37:6 .. we had darling mini cookies and mini little cups with banana pudding with mini spoons.  It was really darling.  I printed up large posters with the small & simple theme and set up a table display of the young women values with the color in small and large decorative jars.  The only thing I was not happy about was letting the young women talk about what they put in jars.  I felt they should have the opportunity yet Aly did not want them too.  I have been frustrated with her not working with me as a team player and working together.  I just backed off and tried to get the thru the event.  It still all turned out really nice.  Not one young women past off a value this year but we are going to do better next year.  More focus on personal progress and what we can do to help them accomplish their value projects.  Trying to not be discourage with my calling and find the direction we need to go forward this up coming year.  Pray for the guidance I need In knowing how to lead and guide the young women of this Ward.  Pray we can follow the prophet and work on our young women value experiences and see greater results next year.  

Bill’s Funeral & Viewing November 1st

Friday November 1st 

Halloween Day

 We drove down to see the grandkids.  Little Annie is so darling. We over to have dinner at the Burbidge family.  Trisha fixed yummy chili and cornbread.  Our poor Saydee bug is having such a hard time.  She was laying in the floor saying how she hates. Halloween.  It should be a fun time with her friends.  She is having a hard time bonding with friends at school this year,  her better friends are the onescshe made the short time they lived in St George.  This is really hard now that they are back in Bluffdale.  I love our Saydee bug so much pray she can be strengthen in her teen years.  Tasha picked her up on Friday to baby sit for her such a cute picture of them together.  Tasha had a photo shot for her business that is doing so well.  So proud of her and all the hard work she is doing in running a business and caring for her little family.  Seeing the family the past few days has been good for my spirits, feeling down from my young women calling.  Trunk to stay positive.  Craig and I had a long talk Tuesday night after I told the Bishop I was done.   He helped me  to see things in a different light.  I have to keep the faith that Inwas called for a reason at this season in my life.  It is hard in me physically.  I just need to love the girls even more, it is so hard when they don’t return the love and I feel them very judgemental of me.  We stayed in town to attend Bill Neff’s funeral.  

Up and Downs of My Young Women calling.

History repeats with these back bitting young women in the Ward.  There seems to be Drama with activities allowing the girls to plan.  They don’t follow thru on their Assingments,  I pick up the slack and then I get back lass from my efforts. It is so frustrating it is not all about them.  I spent all week end making invitation to handout Sunday.  Which Aly really should have been helping me with.  Missing the opportunity of working together.  I was excited about the event coming up have spent alot of time getting ready

Rose my first counselor was out of town.  Elise my secretary is very sick with morning sickness.  We combined our lesson time with the Beehives.  none of the older girls showed up. Aly our president was at Sacrament, but left and did not come back for young women’s.  We needed to hand our yw jars to the girls that were there which was only 4 beehives. I texted Aly in yw asking where the jars were that none of the girls had their jars yet?  She replied back that she did not have any jars yet.  It is next Sunday and we needed to allow time for the young women to prepare.  This is a very busy week with Halloween, a stake activity and I have Bill Neff’s funereal this week.  So the time was short.  I told Aly I would see how many I jars I have.  I had just enough jars for all the young women 16 only short two.  I invited Aly to meet with me and go over things and go with me to hand out the jars and she just ingnore me and replied back that I could not come over Sunday.  Which gave me ni choice but to hand out the jars by myself.  I spent the entire Sunday afternoon tying up a letter to explain what to put in their jars.  Tying  ribbon around the 15 jars and taking the time to visit all the young women and invite them to our program. The girls needed to be reached out too.  I was sad that Aly would not go with me.   A geat opportunity to serve and teach how to serve the young women,   I sent her a picture of the jars with the note.  Later that night Craig came home from the stake leadership meeting and said that Aly had Called the Bishop complaining about me.   I was so upset with her, how dare her-when she would not respond, she had not followed up on her part and then I was left to do the job.  She had the time on Sunday she just didn’t want to make the time.  Making it sound like I’m over stepping her project.  Which is another thing that has caused contention,  I asked her to help plan and organize the program come up with the idea, but not to be totally in charge of the program.  This is what has been the miscommunication.  She is totally changing what we had planned and I do not agree.  With me being the president I should have the final say In how the program goes.  This is not just her personal 10 hour project. I needed to be apart of the program. I guess my expectations are two high, my standards of how things should be.  I really wanted and needed to meet with Aly and her mother.  Come to find out Monday morning Rose my 1st counselor went over to their home and talked to Aly and her mom they were mad that I had taken the time to hand out the jars, heaven forbid!! I was really upset that Rose went over there without me, leaving me out of the lope when I needed to be there to smooth things out with Aly and not Rose, she then went and talked to the Bishop.  Which should have been me.   I’m not bonding with the girls because Rose is over stepping the situations.  She is awesome but still young only 26 yrs old.  I have delegated her to help but I need to be included in the process.  Looking at the 5 older girls I have to work with has been really difficult already,  they are very judgemental of me which is hurtful, when I’m giving my heart and soul to this calling. I dont see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It has been so hard already.   I feel like calling someone else with a different personality and expectations could maybe change the Dynamics and contention that I feel from the girls.  I told Craig and the Bishop I’m just done.  I don’t want to do this calling any more there is to much drama for me!   I was so upset Monday.  I was really hurt and mad that Rose went over to their home without me.  My emotions just took me over.  I’m really struggling in the first place trying to adjust to the different people here and fit in the community.  I don’t want yo hurt anyone, I’m just to tender hearted. I took all the things over to Rose’s home on Monday afternoon and said I’m done,  asking to be released I’m just done!!! Poor Rose she didn’t know what to think.   She seems to handle Aly ok, she has just not warmed up to me, always the cold shoulder, and that is hard when she is so closed off to me.   Plus I’m just home sick, I’m so ready to move back to the Salt lake valley.. Tuesday I was dead set in being released.   I talked with the Bishop And said I’m done!!! 

Bill Neff Died

Brandon called Craig Friday morning to say his dad is not going to make it thru the day.  It has sure  been a shock to see how fast the cancer took his life. Craig wanted to hurry down so see Bill before he died.  Craig was hunting with MIcheal, they shot a deer Friday  morning.  By the time they got off the mountain the deer cut up, loaded it in the back of Michael’s trunk and headed down to Salt lake.   I ran errands all afternoon getting ready for our Young Women in Excellece Program this next Sunday November 4th.  We have a fun theme this year.  By small & simple things greats things are brought to pass.  Craig got in town about 5:00pm traffic time is crazy this time of day,  I met him at the game processing company off the frontage road to pick him up to head to the hospital.  Bill died  at 5:30 pm.  We arrived shortly after he died.  It is so sad.  We didn’t want to impose on their family moaning, but Brandon ask that we come on over to the hospital.   We were able to visit with all the family.  Such a special chapter in our lives as neighbors raising our children together.  We have fond memories.  Bill and Renee were very loving and kind to our Shannon.  Shannon was best friends with Natalie their youngest daughter. Shannon has been upset with new of Bill passing too.  It has been to close to all our hearts.  Sad when it has been one our friends dying make it more real I. Realizing our time on the earth is very short.  Craig and I joking say a we are running on a 1/4 tank of gas.  We only have a short time lift.  What do we want  to accomplish with our last year’s of our lives? We can do great things.  Our prophet is 94 years old and going strong.  I can’t imagine living that’s is another 33 years for me that is another life time of challenges I’m done raising our children, I love spending time with them.  I miss being closer to them on the daily in and outs.  But what brings me the most happiness is serving in the kingdom of god on the earth and we need to serve a mission !!