More wild flowers along the roadsides.

My quilter DeDe Jones & hubby

She is an amazing quilter, doing demonstrations all over the country. Beside her is Greg & Michele Carlson, great old friends too.

Our good friends, Chuck Miller & Marian Toney with Gerry

July 16 - 25, 2009

Pioneer picnic in South Haven
Thursday we taught Sally her last lesson in preparation for her baptism. Sad to be done we love her and look foreword to her baptism. A real sweet lady. We taught Corey again that evening and challenged him to be more faithful in his study for his family.

Friday, after my chiropractic appointment, Myra came over and I helped her learn appliqué so she could finish a project for her daughter. A nice afternoon bonding and sharing skills.

Saturday I was under the weather, so Gerry took the elders out to breakfast and I tried to recover from two nights of insomnia. Bummer. That afternoon we worked in the Paw Paw area. A good experience. I made pasta salad and blueberry cake for branch council on Sunday.

Sunday, a good meeting! Dannielle came with her family! Linda was in the hospital last week so is home recovering from a placement of a stint. Missed her. The branch meetings were briefer than usual.

Monday was a great day of testifying and good friendships. Marian went with me again to Coloma for my haircut and lunch with Chris & Kathy. I challenged Chris to get to the temple again (it’s been 5 years) and testified about how great it is to go alone once in a while. Then we met with Shelly & her daughter Becky. Had a great meeting with them. I am so hopeful that they will finally live up to their commitments. We also visited Marisol. A great, positive day Visiting Teaching.

Tuesday I made chicken soup and we took it to Linda. She wasn’t home so we left it and a note on her doorstep. We later learned that she was again in the hospital for another stint!) Then we went and worked at the rehab center. A good afternoon. That evening we home taught Dan & Robyn. A good evening of sharing. Gerry taught a great lesson!

Wednesday we had a great district meeting with a whole new district and new district leader. We took them to lunch afterward and then ran errands. Later that day we worked in the Paw Paw area finding members at home. That evening we Home taught Myra and Bob. A good evening.

Thursday, we went to the Bangor & covert area finding people and then I felt ill so we came home after a couple of hours. I had a bad headache,,, rrrrrrrr!
Friday, we worked in the Pullman /Bloomingdale areas finding people home and then we went to South Haven afor their Pioneer Day picnic and saw an old good friend, Chuck Miller! Also met some LA families we had been searching for (who Chuck had baptized!). Did some serious and rich bonding with those good people!

Saturday, after feeding our good elders, I went and helped with the YW yard sale, raising money for their girls camp. A good morning.
Friday, we worked in the Pullman /Bloomingdale areas finding people home and then we went to South Haven afor their Pioneer Day picnic and saw an old good friend, Chuck Miller! Also met some LA families we had been searching for (who Chuck had baptized!). Did some serious and rich bonding with those good people!

Saturday, after feeding our good elders, I went and helped with the YW yard sale, raising money for their girls camp. A good morning. In the afternoon we went and gave Linda a blessing for the sick with the Elders and prepared our lessons for Sunday.

Talking about my pioneer ancestors with the Primary children.

Some of the ditch flowers that are everywhere here right now. Lillies & roses.

July 7 -15, 2009

This week has been quality time with good friends & investigators. We had lots of time with Rachel B.. She has had a horrific couple of years and coping well, considering. But she has been hit lately with back breaking challenges. Spending time with her and giving support where we could has been our goal and as usual, when you try to serve you go away with the greater blessings. I had a day with Myra doing our quilt thing and managing to draw closer. We finished the day at a fish fry as couples and really had a great time. Also saw JoAnn M. again after her winter away. She & Peggy had dinner with us and we got some terrific travel tips for the future. We sure will miss these great people when we go home, probably will never see them again. Gerry was able to look up another old work associate and had quality time with him.

My time at the Rehab Center collecting life histories has been good. Peggy came and showed me how to submit these genealogies to the SLC genealogical society and it is nice to have that skill & be able to come home and immediately get that done. I was asked to share a pioneer ancestor’s story for the children’s Activity day and having my pictures & stories in my PAF came in real handy. We also shared time with the Seniors social group at the branch.

We’re back having the Elders for Saturday breakfast and now have two new elders with Elder Willis. Great young men we look foreword to getting better acquainted. We had great district meetings, playing scripture Jeopardy. Had the Elders to dinner for Elder Willis’ birthday, they seemed to enjoy it.

Sunday was Branch Conference, sadly fewer people than normal were there for various reasons but it was a great conference. The stake presidency gave great talks on recognizing the Spirit and the importance of attending church. One of the concepts I especially liked was how we attend to receive revelation and partake of the Sacrament. Then if we act upon that revelation we progress. Our ultimate goal is to progress all our lives and thereby become comfortable in our Heavenly Father’s presence in the Celestial kingdom. Without this progression, we won’t feel comfortable there, or make it.

We also went searching for people again and found one new sister who had moved in to the branch 3 weeks ago, died a week ago. Kind of a surprise that you don’t expect. Otherwise a good day contacting.

I also worked on gifts for people here. Had great RS presidency meetings as usual.

July 7-15, 2009

One of our Book of Mormon reading groups.

At the Car Museum

There was also a miniture museum :)

July 1 - 6, 2009

Opps!




This was a fast week with the holiday and family coming but we had some definite highlights. We had a great lesson with Sally. We had Linda coming to church again Sunday and Darlene came for the branch's 4th of July pancake breakfast. We also were able to take Myra & Bob to the fireside Sunday where our former member of the stake presidency reported on his 3 year mission as mission president to the Caribbean. With Chris and Rachael we visited the Gilmore car Museum.

HOPE

I love this poem by Larry Miller, published in the June Ensign. ( Loved his article on hope also.)

WALKING WITH TWO SISTERS

Faith walks before me,
Holding up her lamp
As I try not to stumble in the ink-
dark hours before the dawn.
Her light illuminates
One step and then another.
Beside me, Hope, arm linked
with mine, encourages and
steadies.
Sometimes in the tedium,
Distracted by the pain,
My mind begins to wander, then
my feet. I hesitate.
Unsure, I look to Hope.
Her hand takes mine.
The touch reminds me of another
hand held out to me,
One pierced and scarred
Yet oh so tender
Lifting me and blessing me when
I had fallen and dispaired.
Remembering,
I move ahead
Buoyed up by Hope, who sees
the end with perfect clarity.


This poem really comforts and inspires me. For some reason it makes me think of my sister Carolyn Foley. I don't want to forget it. The accompaning article was also absolutely inspiring, " HOPE: The Misunderstood Sister" by Larry Miller (Ensign, June 2009, p. 8)

A scripture that means a lot today is 2 Nephi 32:5, "If we will strive to love with understanding, the Spirit will teach us 'all things what we should do'."

This is a great day.