Wednesday, January 28, 2009
January 18 -28,2009
Huge, great news!!! Our third grandbaby due this year is here!!!! Samuel Enoch!! Seven # 10 oz!!!! Both he and his great mom, Monique, are doing great!! That makes 11georgeous, brilliant granddaughters & 11 brilliant, handsome grandsons!!
Enrichment went great! The ladies seemed to really enjoy the class on organizing their genealogy and although surprised by the preparation class on planning for death & funerals, they got very involved and asked lots of questions. The Book Club had a healthy sign up and our sauces were delicious and appreciated! I especially loved the alfredo sauce & basil cream sauce. Good also to have all this done.
Our lesson Tuesday with Henry & Candi went very well! We taught them about eternal marriage and they were very interested. Henry prayed (after we read the Book of Mormon) for the first time!!! Then on Saturday we decided to go offer to pick them up for church and sweetened the pie by inviting them to dinner following church and they accepted our invitation! Sunday we picked them up (Candi stayed home sick) and the children especially loved church & Primary. We had a great time at dinner. This Tuesday, when Gerry went to help Henri with his father-in-law's well, Chastity asked him, "Elder Opdahl, can we come to church again Sunday?" Then Henry said, "We've been talking about doing that!" Wow! very encouraging!
The genealogy interviews at the rehab center are going better & better and I am gaining the trust of the staff and getting better acquainted with them. It is a great learning experience working with the elderly and stepping into their shoes a little.
We have been stood up a few more times by people. I am still surprised when this happens.
On Friday I had the first quilting day and forgot to tell people that their would be no car there and people came and then left thinking they'd comethe wrong day! Bummer! But I had one gal there and I straightened the situation out Sunday and I know I'll have at least 3 gals there this Friday. I did finish my Patches & Posies quilt though.
Had a bad day with our special needs gal. It really brought me down she was so very abusive. She is a totally new experience for the entire branch trying to help her. She is her own worst enemy and she really lit into me. I was ready to go home I got so discouraged. But I talked with a son who was very comforting and by the end of the conversation he had me laughing and a new plan for dealing with her in mind. Each of my sons have such great & unique gifts. There is always someone in our family that is perfect to help with any situation. What a blessing to have such a great and marvelous family. I have seven great, great men loving me. And seven even greater women (that they have wisely chosen) loving me!! My cup runs over!
Enrichment went great! The ladies seemed to really enjoy the class on organizing their genealogy and although surprised by the preparation class on planning for death & funerals, they got very involved and asked lots of questions. The Book Club had a healthy sign up and our sauces were delicious and appreciated! I especially loved the alfredo sauce & basil cream sauce. Good also to have all this done.
Our lesson Tuesday with Henry & Candi went very well! We taught them about eternal marriage and they were very interested. Henry prayed (after we read the Book of Mormon) for the first time!!! Then on Saturday we decided to go offer to pick them up for church and sweetened the pie by inviting them to dinner following church and they accepted our invitation! Sunday we picked them up (Candi stayed home sick) and the children especially loved church & Primary. We had a great time at dinner. This Tuesday, when Gerry went to help Henri with his father-in-law's well, Chastity asked him, "Elder Opdahl, can we come to church again Sunday?" Then Henry said, "We've been talking about doing that!" Wow! very encouraging!
The genealogy interviews at the rehab center are going better & better and I am gaining the trust of the staff and getting better acquainted with them. It is a great learning experience working with the elderly and stepping into their shoes a little.
We have been stood up a few more times by people. I am still surprised when this happens.
On Friday I had the first quilting day and forgot to tell people that their would be no car there and people came and then left thinking they'd comethe wrong day! Bummer! But I had one gal there and I straightened the situation out Sunday and I know I'll have at least 3 gals there this Friday. I did finish my Patches & Posies quilt though.
Had a bad day with our special needs gal. It really brought me down she was so very abusive. She is a totally new experience for the entire branch trying to help her. She is her own worst enemy and she really lit into me. I was ready to go home I got so discouraged. But I talked with a son who was very comforting and by the end of the conversation he had me laughing and a new plan for dealing with her in mind. Each of my sons have such great & unique gifts. There is always someone in our family that is perfect to help with any situation. What a blessing to have such a great and marvelous family. I have seven great, great men loving me. And seven even greater women (that they have wisely chosen) loving me!! My cup runs over!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Jan 9 - 17, 2009
This week has been very challenging. I has been hard to stay focused on our mission with so many concerns at home with the flood & Dahlins. We have had a record week with cold here (in the –teens) and snow. It makes it very hard to get out. But, we have done well. In spite of the distress and distractions we have had sweet missionary experiences and blessings and gotten good things done. We appreciate so very much those from the ward & our neighbors who came to the aide of the Dahlin’s since we couldn’t. It really makes us feel loved & cared for when they got so much help from caring good people!!
After getting many mixed reports on all the damage at home we feel blessed that it wasn’t worse. Especially since we learned that our “great” flood coverage, which is as comprehensive as you can get, is NOT covering half of what we had hoped it would. There was two inches of mud in the attached garage, the insulation under the house was soaked with mud ( but the furnace ducts were okay). The well and septic are fine, though we will have the septic pumped and the carpets cleaned. Two feet up in the attached garage will have to have the drywall & insulation replaced. In the detached garage, we had 2 feet of mud & water. The Dahlin’s things got drenched, including their children’s baby pictures & their wedding pictures. We are heartbroken for them. Structurally, the shop carpets will have to be tossed and the drywall half way up will have to go with it’s insulation. The yard is covered with mud, in some places up to 6 inches. So we have a ways to go but gratefully Jordan got some of his crew under the house to clean out the mud and wet & damaged insulation so the heat is back on. The insurance appraiser comes on Tuesday. We are hopeful for decent help. We shall see. The Dahlins we put up in the local Best Western for the duration and they come back to the house today. We hope that they didn’t loose too much and that they can be comfortable in the home once again. If not we will understand if they decide to go elsewhere.
We also lost another approximate 6 feet of riverbank. I am getting some estimates on erosion control that we may get started next summer. Some of the bank, (as you can see) is up to the fence.
And finally, after Jordan & Jill generously took Danny Boy (our Maltese) since the flood, Joe & Coryell are adopting him for us for the rest of our mission. I really appreciate that!!! So very much!
The missionaries we have, Richardson & Hiatt are excellent. Hard working and focused hard workers, we love them. We had a great Zone conference and I had excellent Relief Society meetings with our new Education counselor & Marian. I made up a new worksheet for the personal histories I am getting at the Rehab Center that seems to be very good. We are getting better acquainted there with staff & residents and I am really enjoying working there. We are going to have Enrichment today and even with the intimidating weather I anticipate a good turnout of members & nonmembers and a fun event. I have spent a lot of time preparing the classes. We are having classes on organizing our genealogical treasures, a book club kickoff, preparing for funerals & sauces with a taster’s table.
I am also starting a quilting class and seem to have a lot of interest from members & nonmembers, so it will be every Friday with one week on Saturday where we also will have a book club review & luncheon & time for women to work on any other unfinished projects. I am excited to see how that goes.
We did a lot of service too this week, covering for Marian who was out of town, doing food orders and other service. Our meeting with Candi & Henry, reading the B of Mormon went well, we will teach them about celestial marriages next week. Also, our Home teaching is progressing with Corey’s family. Improving since we have started reading from the B of Mormon with them. Reilly really liked the story of Aamon & the sheep herds. Our next goal is to show them how to do FHEs.
Many opportunities to learn and stretch as we have had to watch as our friends & family go through so much and have to serve us at home. It is humbling and touching, we feel loved and frustrated that we aren’t there able to roll up our sleeves and jump in. We worked hard to avoid all this but I feel there are good blessings to come to us all through this if we stay focused as the Lord would have us do. Heavenly Father loves each of us and helps us so very much. I am so very grateful for all the blessings he showers us with. This gospel is true. Joseph Smith DID see Heavenly Father & the Savior in that grove and he did bring forth and translate the ancient records that today stand as another witness of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon IS the word of God and was divinely preserved and brought forth for us today. I am so very grateful for it and the wonderful record of the Saviors time here on the American continent. I love that book and love it’s sacred message.
After getting many mixed reports on all the damage at home we feel blessed that it wasn’t worse. Especially since we learned that our “great” flood coverage, which is as comprehensive as you can get, is NOT covering half of what we had hoped it would. There was two inches of mud in the attached garage, the insulation under the house was soaked with mud ( but the furnace ducts were okay). The well and septic are fine, though we will have the septic pumped and the carpets cleaned. Two feet up in the attached garage will have to have the drywall & insulation replaced. In the detached garage, we had 2 feet of mud & water. The Dahlin’s things got drenched, including their children’s baby pictures & their wedding pictures. We are heartbroken for them. Structurally, the shop carpets will have to be tossed and the drywall half way up will have to go with it’s insulation. The yard is covered with mud, in some places up to 6 inches. So we have a ways to go but gratefully Jordan got some of his crew under the house to clean out the mud and wet & damaged insulation so the heat is back on. The insurance appraiser comes on Tuesday. We are hopeful for decent help. We shall see. The Dahlins we put up in the local Best Western for the duration and they come back to the house today. We hope that they didn’t loose too much and that they can be comfortable in the home once again. If not we will understand if they decide to go elsewhere.
We also lost another approximate 6 feet of riverbank. I am getting some estimates on erosion control that we may get started next summer. Some of the bank, (as you can see) is up to the fence.
And finally, after Jordan & Jill generously took Danny Boy (our Maltese) since the flood, Joe & Coryell are adopting him for us for the rest of our mission. I really appreciate that!!! So very much!
The missionaries we have, Richardson & Hiatt are excellent. Hard working and focused hard workers, we love them. We had a great Zone conference and I had excellent Relief Society meetings with our new Education counselor & Marian. I made up a new worksheet for the personal histories I am getting at the Rehab Center that seems to be very good. We are getting better acquainted there with staff & residents and I am really enjoying working there. We are going to have Enrichment today and even with the intimidating weather I anticipate a good turnout of members & nonmembers and a fun event. I have spent a lot of time preparing the classes. We are having classes on organizing our genealogical treasures, a book club kickoff, preparing for funerals & sauces with a taster’s table.
I am also starting a quilting class and seem to have a lot of interest from members & nonmembers, so it will be every Friday with one week on Saturday where we also will have a book club review & luncheon & time for women to work on any other unfinished projects. I am excited to see how that goes.
We did a lot of service too this week, covering for Marian who was out of town, doing food orders and other service. Our meeting with Candi & Henry, reading the B of Mormon went well, we will teach them about celestial marriages next week. Also, our Home teaching is progressing with Corey’s family. Improving since we have started reading from the B of Mormon with them. Reilly really liked the story of Aamon & the sheep herds. Our next goal is to show them how to do FHEs.
Many opportunities to learn and stretch as we have had to watch as our friends & family go through so much and have to serve us at home. It is humbling and touching, we feel loved and frustrated that we aren’t there able to roll up our sleeves and jump in. We worked hard to avoid all this but I feel there are good blessings to come to us all through this if we stay focused as the Lord would have us do. Heavenly Father loves each of us and helps us so very much. I am so very grateful for all the blessings he showers us with. This gospel is true. Joseph Smith DID see Heavenly Father & the Savior in that grove and he did bring forth and translate the ancient records that today stand as another witness of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon IS the word of God and was divinely preserved and brought forth for us today. I am so very grateful for it and the wonderful record of the Saviors time here on the American continent. I love that book and love it’s sacred message.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
January 1 - 8, 2009
We had a quick trip (2 Hours) to Ann Arbor and then we got to be with our family for a week. The new baby is just precious. Skinny and beautiful at 7#9oz.. Mother & son doing great! He slept great AT NIGHT and ate great and burped great! Now what could be better. Had fun at restaurants and of course had a ball with Alyanna. Rachel is still georgeous and Chris handsome and loving. We got to have Chris clean our teeth and that was a super treat being there at his school and meeting his associates. He did a great job cleaning too!
We then headed home and learned that our home in Chehalis was flooding. After some apprehension and amazement we finally got first hand information that the shop had two feet of water and that the house was dry but 6 inches of water in the attached garage. Miracle of miracles!! Pictures to follow. We feel amazingly blessed. Now that is a good start to 2009!
We then headed home and learned that our home in Chehalis was flooding. After some apprehension and amazement we finally got first hand information that the shop had two feet of water and that the house was dry but 6 inches of water in the attached garage. Miracle of miracles!! Pictures to follow. We feel amazingly blessed. Now that is a good start to 2009!
December 26 - 31, 2008
The last week of 2008 was different as far as the missionary work went because of the holiday, and trying to make our time productive was a challenge at the least. We visited sick LA members at the hospital at least 5 times the weekend after Christmas. Time well spent but it surprised us. We did service for nonmembers too. /Saturday we had our missionary breakfast meeting and then I worked all afternoon on the January enrichment meeting, trying to get things set up before we went to Ann Arbor to help Chris & Rachel with the new baby due. Sunday went well & we had a good Book of Mormon reading class that night. Monday I went for instructions at the Van Buren Genealogical Library to help those at the rehab center better then I visit taught Shelley and challenged her to do what she knew she needs to do to be a celestial family with her husband & daughters. That went well. I felt HF prompting me and she received it well. Will follow up next month.
On Tuesday Chris called and said that Rachel’s water had broken early that morning. She was at the hospital being induced. He asked that we come over on New Year’s day.
We attended our district meetings on Wednesday and cleaned, helped a homeless man the branch President referred us too, worked on a budget for Angela, helped her get groceries and packed. Said “Happy New Year Dear” & I hit the hay. The fireworks woke me a midnight for a few seconds. Ha!
On Tuesday Chris called and said that Rachel’s water had broken early that morning. She was at the hospital being induced. He asked that we come over on New Year’s day.
We attended our district meetings on Wednesday and cleaned, helped a homeless man the branch President referred us too, worked on a budget for Angela, helped her get groceries and packed. Said “Happy New Year Dear” & I hit the hay. The fireworks woke me a midnight for a few seconds. Ha!
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