Saturday, November 1, 2014

"The ordinance of the sacrament needs to become more

holy and sacred to each of us."

-Elder James J. Hamula

"As we look to Jesus as our Exemplar and

as we follow in His footsteps,

we can return safely to our Heavenly Father."

-President Thomas S. Monson

It was very windy today.  I don't really like strong wind.  It destroys the peace.  I read, studied, and did laundry this morning.  At home Evan played a soccer game and made a goal.  Max made an interception and scored a touchdown in his football game.

Can you tell Evan has lost a tooth.

Evan with his Batman Lego set.

Laura and Dave organized a work day at Lois's today.

Here are some of the pictures Laura posted on Facebook:

 Another discovery on Facebook today.  One of James's best friends in high school was a young man named Walter Turley.  Today on Facebook Kristy Thomas posted this picture of her daughter Kaylena with a friend, Walt Turley.  It's the same guy.  James got his number and will call him soon.

I got a text from Jared today that went like this:

"FYI I lost vision in my right eye 3 weeks ago, that's a different eye than my droopy eye.  I had a swollen optic nerve.  I've been on steroids for 3 weeks and most of my vision has returned but not completely.  It might or might not going forward we just have to wait and see.  After MRIs and blood tests to figure out why this happened it was determined that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.  The inflammation got into my blood vessels and caused a vasculitis and that's why I had the droopy lid in one eye 6 months ago and the vision loss in the other eye.  I was started on weekly methotrexate injections to treat my eye for 4 weeks.  Next week I am getting a Rituxan infusion.  That's the short story but I thought you should know."

Since this text I have spoken to Jared and his eyesight has returned.  He is optomistic in spite of this trial in his life.  Both of my boys have rheumatoid arthritis as I do.  In looking at my mother's life history this week I found that she had rheumatic fever in the sixth grade.  Is this an explanation for why we have this disease?  I don't know.  It doesn't explain why my cousin Rita has it too.

We had stake conference meetings today.  James left with Chuck Crane and Owen Peeler for the 5:00 priesthood leadership meeting.  Donna Peeler drove Kathy Crane, Analee Hunsaker, and myself to the 7:00 meeting.  Our meeting was good and I took notes in my stake conference notebook for further reference.  One of the highlights for me was the youth choir that was asked to sing without prior notice.  I love the youth from the Vernon ward!  Kilee Hunsaker, Trenda, Talon and Alice Wilhelm, Jordyn, Shelly, and Jace Applegate all participated in this choir.  

After the conference session was over I met a dear friend from high school, Jeanene Thomas in the hall on the way out.  This is one of the things I like about living up here.  So many people that I remember from my early days here.

We stopped at Dairy Queen for dinner and I teased Collin Dewitt that the young women outdid the young men again.  We had 5 in the choir and the young men only had 2.  His response: "I didn't know it was a competiton."  My response: "Always."

On the way home Stacy called to tell me about their stake conference session where President and Dianne Heyman were the main speakers.  She said Dianne told her story about health problems while on their mission and her miraculous healing.  After Dianne was finished Stacy said Michael said to her: "Why did I feel so different when Sister Heyman was speaking?"  Stacy told him it was the Spirit witnessing that what she said was true.  I would have loved to have been at that meeting.  I have been a counselor for Dianne Heyman and can testify to her strong faith, determination and conviction in serving the Lord.