Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Temple #171.
Before leaving for town this morning I called the bank about the problem with our line of credit. It's paid off and because I had it on auto pay they keep taking money out of the business account and putting it towards the line of credit. This is the fourth time it's happened, and the fourth time I've called and about the 12th person I have spoken to. This time I spoke to Leann in the payment department and she was very helpful. She put in an order to have the money returned to our checking account, and to stop autopay. I told her how much I appreciated her help and I think we became instant friends.
I also texted Sheri, Teresa Smith, Kathy Crane and Kacey this morning. I like to get my phone calls, etc., done in the morning.
James and I left around 10 am for town. We listened to Jared Halverson from Unshaken in the car talking about the Psalms. He is very thorough and I like listening to him, although his lesson is over 3 hours long, it covers the first 48 Psalms. Brother Halverson said instead of asking someone if they read their scriptures, you should ask them, what scripture are you pondering on? Today I am pondering on Psalm 1:3 - And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. I like to picture myself as the tree, drinking in the living water from the river. The river represents the Savior.
After mailing Terry Farnsworth's sympathy card, Evans passed away, we stopped at Culver's for lunch. We both got the chicken cashew salad. Another thing I like about Culver's is the music they play. They play oldies and I love listening to them.
James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to Lowe's to get a part for the sprinklers. Afterwards he went to Circle K to fill up with gas. I shopped for dinner for the Gilbert's. I'm making Weight Watcher's 0 points veggie soup. Mikki asked for what I fixed last time, and this is what I fixed. She also asked for corn muffins, so I got my favorite cornbread mix.
I came home and rested for about an hour, reading from Emma M. Lion, listening to "The Kiss of a Stranger", doing 50 sit ups with my exercise strap, and playing Match Factory. This is what I do during my rest time.
I had a Dolly Parton muffin mix that has been in the pantry for awhile. When I opened it I saw it had weevils. I'm glad I bought a mix when I was at the store today. I made twelve corn muffins and popped them in the oven. The muffins didn't rise like I wanted them to but I know they will taste good. I also made a double batch of Weight Watcher 0 points vegetable soup, one for the Gilbert's and one for the Grombach's. I know Janna has a stake meeting tonight and I wanted to do something to help her. I can't do something "big", but I can take her a simple meal.
It takes longer to chop all of the vegetables for this soup than I remembered. First onions, celery, and carrots. The cabbage and zucchini. I also added some canned green beans.
James and I delivered to the Grombach's around 5 and then headed for the Gilbert's which is about 10 or so miles away. I have the directions from the last time we took a meal to them. Their circumstances are very humble. Brother Gilbert greeted us shirtless. I guess he wasn't expecting company. I go in and talk to Mikki while James visits with Roger, or Brother Gilbert. Mikki tells me she has to use the wound vacuum for two more weeks on her amputated leg and then she has to wait another two months before getting a prothesis.
Mikki tells me about her six cats. I saw 4 cats, 3 were asleep. Magic, the calico, is 20 years old. She is asleep on the bench near where I am standing. Daisy is asleep on her back behind Mikki with her legs up in the air. Another "reddish" cat is just to the right of Daisy on another bed. Not sure if this cat was Snap or Pop or the one cat that shall remain nameless. Crackle is the newest member of the family, a 3-month-old white kitty with the bluest eyes you have ever seen. I ask Mikki if I could do her laundry. She said Kerri Halcomb was doing it. I know Kerri teaches school so I was surprised that she would take the time to do their laundry.
When I walk into the door of my beautiful home I feel embarrassed or humbled by the comparison of where the Gilbert's live. When I look around at all my "stuff" I remember the comment a brother made in Sunday School this week: "We didn't come to this earth to collect stuff." The Gilbert's live in the humblest circumstances you can imagine in this country yet Mikki is grateful for her blessings and trusts in the Lord. She is an easy person to serve because she is so lovable.
Teresa Smith talked me in to coming to the RS ice cream social this evening. I hurried and did the dishes and then said goodbye to James and left for the church at about 6:20. I had told Teresa that I had heard she was moving and how much I was going to miss her. That's when she asked me if I would come tonight. I told her I wouldn't eat any ice cream but I would come to see her.
Kerri Halcomb conducted. The RS presidency had a stake meeting tonight so they were not there. Kerri thanked me again for the cinnamon rolls and she also thanked me for coming tonight. There were only 11 of us: Kerri, Teresa, Amy Gordon, Roxy - Teresa's friend who is helping her move, Barbara Tignor, me, Alicia and Stefani Hunsaker, Linda Price, Evelyn Carter, and Joyce (I can't remember her name). T-Bo Tignor, John Finnell, and Willy Grombach were the priesthood brethren in attendance to provide protection.
Teresa gave us a quiz regarding the five love languages to determine what our love language is. Mine is acts of service and gifts. Barbara's is physical touch. I don't remember everyone else's. I visited with Barbara and she told me she made a display of my RS handouts. Here is a photo:
Just a few of my handouts
After the meeting I gave Teresa Smith a big hug and told her I was going to miss her and that we should keep in touch. She said they are selling everything because it is time to down-size and get rid of "stuff." There is that word again.
There were two sisters at the meeting I didn't know. One was Roxy, Teresa's friend. I spoke with her before the meeting. After the meeting I went over to introduce myself to the other sister. Her name is Evelyn Carter, and she says they spend their winters in Ajo. They know the Scott's and are staying on Dennis & Kelly Moore's property across from the Halcomb's. Evelyn looks like she is about my age. She was driving a big red van with Wyoming license plates. I asked her if she was from Wyoming and she said she was. That's where they raised their nine children. She said that she and her husband have been "floaters" for the past 20 years. They are off grid and they live in a converted school bus. She said one of their children bought ten acres of land in Wyoming and they were going to go back there to live. She said they couldn't afford to go on a mission but they would love to work in the new Cody, Wyoming temple after it is dedicated. Another person who doesn't have very much "stuff." I enjoyed meeting and talking with Evelyn.
"Abiding in Christ is not an occasional or casual act; it is a constant, conscious, and sacred choice."
- Elder Ulisses Soares
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Relief Society Ice Cream Social & Love Language class
left to right: Joyce, Evelyn, Linda, Stefani, Kerri, Barbara, Roxy, Teresa, Alicia. Amy Gordon and I are not seen in the picture.
