Today I went to the library to pick up some books I had on hold. As I approached the check out counter my attention was drawn to one of the machines there. What probably got my attention first was the LOUD wailing of a small baby. I couldn't see the upset infant who was curled up in a stroller but what I did see made my heart happy. The mother was standing there with 2 other children, a little boy about 3 was balancing on the step stool very seriously placing each book, from a tall stack, on the white square and waiting to hear the ding. He couldn't work very quickly because his younger sister was also vying for space on the stool and was determined to move him out of the way. The mom was being so patient, while trying to encourage the entire process along at a little faster pace. Any attempt she made to assist was met with immediate complaints of "I'm doing it" and she would
step back and let her son do it. I was proud of her control.
I quickly checked out, glanced again at the entertaining family while thinking "I'm glad I'm past that stage of my life" and walked out the door.
As I unlocked my car I had a strong desire to cry and I wasn't sure why.
I gave it some thought as I drove down the road to my next destination and I began to realize that I should have offered to help that young mother. She was handling herself just fine and she might have declined my offer, but I stil should have made the attempt.
But even more than that I should have told that mom that I was glad she had chosen to be a mother.
That I was happy she had made the effort to bring her children to the library.
That I appreciated her patience with her little ones when it would have been so much easier to move them aside and just check the books out herself.
I should have given her a pat on the back,
because mothers don't seem to get those very often.
I should have told her GOOD JOB!
and I didn't
and then I regretted it.
One of my favorite talks in the October General Conference was by Elder M. Russell Ballard and was entitled "Be Anxiously Engaged".
In this talk he encourages every man, woman and child to begin a simple practice.
"In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help ... If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible."
I have been trying to remember to do this every day and have had some sweet experiences, but today I lost focus and missed an opportunity.
And I want to say I'm sorry.
I can't go back and change what happened today, but I can look forward with a desire to improve.
Hopefully next time my spiritual sensitivities will kick into gear just a little bit faster and I can feel that I have done my best to serve God's children that I cross paths with.
Today I am thankful for
parents who treat their children with patience and love.
a women who looked for an opportunity to serve and was prompted to organize a monthly family home evening group for the "empty nesters" in our ward. Tonight was our first activity and it was so fun and uplifting to get together and eat, visit, laugh, talk of Christ and enjoy the Christmas spirit.
homemade orange rolls. YUMMY!
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label service. Show all posts
Monday, December 3, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Mr. Most Important
The youngest son informed me a while ago that my blog posts have gotten a little boring. It seems that all I talk about is the grandson and I never talk about him anymore.
I would like to remind him, that 2nd only to gratitude, he scores the highest number of label links of any topic in my blogdom (He should just go back and read some of those posts, and I'm sure he does.)
However today, I am writing this post in his honor.
Today I had signed up to volunteer at the Bishop's Storehouse. For any of you who don't know, a bishop is the local leader of a church congregation (ward) in the LDS church. If a family is in need of food they can go to their bishop and he will assess their need and help them figure out solutions. One of the things he can do is offer them a food order. Usually the bishop, or the leader of the ward women's organization (the Relief Society), will help them fill out a form with about 5 columns of basic food and other necessities of life, such as toilet paper, toothpaste and cleaning supplies, included on it. This form is then taken by a member of the family to the Bishop's Storehouse, which is similar to a small grocery store attached to a large warehouse. Then volunteers there will help the individual select and bag their "groceries, complete with carry out service and a smile, all at no cost to the family.
The Bishop's Storehouse is almost completely manned by volunteers, some who are called to serve a mission to the storehouse and serve there, perhaps one day each week for an extended period of time, and some who come perhaps once a year as an assignment given to their ward. Individuals who receive commodities from the storehouse may also volunteer to give service there so that they can feel like they have done something in return for what they have received.
So, back to the story. The youngest son heard that I was going to spend sometime at the storehouse and offered to go with me. This surprised me a little bit, but made me a lot happy.
On the way to the storehouse the youngest son had to continually impress upon me the great sacrifice he was making in accompanying me. This is his way and I am quite used to it. I just reinforced how glad I was that he chose to come and that it would be a good experience.
We got there, signed in, donned name tags and had a short orientation. There were 10 volunteers from our ward and about that many storehouse missionaries, mostly men and women around my age. As soon as we were done learning how to serve, one of the older missionaries came up to me and asked if he could borrow my strapping young son for a special job and calling him by name took him away. He made a point of telling the son how glad he was that he was there and how grateful they were for his service.
Volunteers at the storehouse not only accompany and assist patrons, but they are also responsible for keeping the shelves stocked and orderly, including the refrigerated sections, and sorting and packaging produce. There are a lot of jobs to keep a lot of volunteers busy but it seemed like we had more than enough volunteers today and had opportunity to spend some time visiting and getting to know one another better. After the son had been missing for about an hour he reappeared and returned to my side. One of the other missionaries, a woman, asked him if he was there by his own free will and choice and I quickly informed her that yes he had volunteered. He then commented that it was quite a sacrifice too because he had to get up early. Well, our shift started at 11:30 AM so the the sister kind of raised her eyebrows and then laughed out loud when he added that he got up at 9:30. She thought it was so funny that she had to go around and share the story with all the other volunteers. Soon, the youngest son was being commended by all the workers on his willingness to sacrifice and being praised for his efforts and thanked profusely for his service. The male missionary who had first befriended him continued to take a special interest in him, and kept finding him meaningful opportunities to help and as a mother who wants her children to have positive experiences, I was grateful.
When our shift ended and we were leaving, EVERYONE, called him by name and thanked him for coming. It got to the point where I wondered if perhaps I was invisible or if maybe my name tag was written in invisible ink and I was the only one who could read it, but then I remembered - I love to serve and I will continue to come to the Bishop's Storehouse regardless, but if this "moment of notoriety" leaves a lasting impression on my son and helps him to have a desire to serve again I will gladly fade into the woodwork and let him be Mr. Most Important.
And to top it all off that wonderful, service-oriented son, pulled his name tag off and slapped it on my back so I would feel important too. That's just the way he is.
I appreciated that he didn't stick it on one of the grocery carts for another volunteer to have to volunteer to remove. Perhaps he learned something today too.
Today I am grateful for
opportunities to serve.
others who give service and make serving an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
our bishop. The hubby and I got to meet with him tonight for a few minutes for tithing settlement and I appreciate his faith in me and my family, as well as his leadership and love.
I would like to remind him, that 2nd only to gratitude, he scores the highest number of label links of any topic in my blogdom (He should just go back and read some of those posts, and I'm sure he does.)
However today, I am writing this post in his honor.
Today I had signed up to volunteer at the Bishop's Storehouse. For any of you who don't know, a bishop is the local leader of a church congregation (ward) in the LDS church. If a family is in need of food they can go to their bishop and he will assess their need and help them figure out solutions. One of the things he can do is offer them a food order. Usually the bishop, or the leader of the ward women's organization (the Relief Society), will help them fill out a form with about 5 columns of basic food and other necessities of life, such as toilet paper, toothpaste and cleaning supplies, included on it. This form is then taken by a member of the family to the Bishop's Storehouse, which is similar to a small grocery store attached to a large warehouse. Then volunteers there will help the individual select and bag their "groceries, complete with carry out service and a smile, all at no cost to the family.
The Bishop's Storehouse is almost completely manned by volunteers, some who are called to serve a mission to the storehouse and serve there, perhaps one day each week for an extended period of time, and some who come perhaps once a year as an assignment given to their ward. Individuals who receive commodities from the storehouse may also volunteer to give service there so that they can feel like they have done something in return for what they have received.
So, back to the story. The youngest son heard that I was going to spend sometime at the storehouse and offered to go with me. This surprised me a little bit, but made me a lot happy.
On the way to the storehouse the youngest son had to continually impress upon me the great sacrifice he was making in accompanying me. This is his way and I am quite used to it. I just reinforced how glad I was that he chose to come and that it would be a good experience.
We got there, signed in, donned name tags and had a short orientation. There were 10 volunteers from our ward and about that many storehouse missionaries, mostly men and women around my age. As soon as we were done learning how to serve, one of the older missionaries came up to me and asked if he could borrow my strapping young son for a special job and calling him by name took him away. He made a point of telling the son how glad he was that he was there and how grateful they were for his service.
Volunteers at the storehouse not only accompany and assist patrons, but they are also responsible for keeping the shelves stocked and orderly, including the refrigerated sections, and sorting and packaging produce. There are a lot of jobs to keep a lot of volunteers busy but it seemed like we had more than enough volunteers today and had opportunity to spend some time visiting and getting to know one another better. After the son had been missing for about an hour he reappeared and returned to my side. One of the other missionaries, a woman, asked him if he was there by his own free will and choice and I quickly informed her that yes he had volunteered. He then commented that it was quite a sacrifice too because he had to get up early. Well, our shift started at 11:30 AM so the the sister kind of raised her eyebrows and then laughed out loud when he added that he got up at 9:30. She thought it was so funny that she had to go around and share the story with all the other volunteers. Soon, the youngest son was being commended by all the workers on his willingness to sacrifice and being praised for his efforts and thanked profusely for his service. The male missionary who had first befriended him continued to take a special interest in him, and kept finding him meaningful opportunities to help and as a mother who wants her children to have positive experiences, I was grateful.
When our shift ended and we were leaving, EVERYONE, called him by name and thanked him for coming. It got to the point where I wondered if perhaps I was invisible or if maybe my name tag was written in invisible ink and I was the only one who could read it, but then I remembered - I love to serve and I will continue to come to the Bishop's Storehouse regardless, but if this "moment of notoriety" leaves a lasting impression on my son and helps him to have a desire to serve again I will gladly fade into the woodwork and let him be Mr. Most Important.
And to top it all off that wonderful, service-oriented son, pulled his name tag off and slapped it on my back so I would feel important too. That's just the way he is.
I appreciated that he didn't stick it on one of the grocery carts for another volunteer to have to volunteer to remove. Perhaps he learned something today too.
Today I am grateful for
opportunities to serve.
others who give service and make serving an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
our bishop. The hubby and I got to meet with him tonight for a few minutes for tithing settlement and I appreciate his faith in me and my family, as well as his leadership and love.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Catsup Cooking at the Cannery
Today the youngest daughter and I volunteered at the Mesa Cannery. It's always exciting to try to guess what product we are canning by the smell that wafts out at you as the door opens. Our cannery only produces a few items including salsa, ketchup and syrup so it's usually pretty easy to narrow it down. My canning sessions with salsa are always followed by an intense desire for Mexican food and the last time we did syrup I had to make pancakes for dinner. It's sometimes nice when we do ketchup because, since I'm not a ketchup fan, it doesn't bring any food cravings with it. (However, the hubby did take me to Culvers for a Butter Burger tonight. I had mine ketchup-less).
As we entered and sat down by a gentleman from our ward I said, "Smells like we're doing ketchup today" and he replied, "Unless we're doing cat-sup." Now I grew up in small town Utah and we (most people, but not me) ate ketchup. Sometimes it was spelled ketchup and sometimes it was spelled catsup, but it was all the same thing and the names were interchangeable. According to this gentleman there is a difference. Of course when I got home I had to google ketchup vs. catsup and I am still pretty sure they are the same thing.
This is what I learned:
ketchup was what it was called back when it was first introduced to the world pre-1700.
The British called it catsup somewhere along the way.
Southerners seem to prefer catsup.
Some people say catsup is spicier.
Ketchup is the most accepted name today and is what is printed on most brands.
Also, if you type catsup it shows up as a mis-spelling on the computer.
If you are interested in more info (and some ketchup/catsup pictures) you can go here.
Well, back to the cannery. Today we canned (or bottled) catsup. See Exhibit A below.
I got the job of putting lids on the bottles after the catsup was squirted in. This is my most regular cannery assignment. I must look like I have good manual dexterity or something. The bottles come out 4 at a time, pretty quickly, but there are usually 3 or 4 people in this area, so if you are at the front of the line and you miss a bottle someone else will catch it later. If you are at the end of the line this is a REALLY BORING job and you spend most of your time spacing the bottles evenly to go through the machine that sucks the air out of them. Today I was 2nd in line, a good spot to be.
The youngest daughter got to remove the bottles from the cooling tunnel and place them on the conveyor belt to get labeled and boxed. I worked this area once. I liked it because it is a loud area, I got to wear ear plugs and I could sing my entire repertoire of songs, at the top of my lungs and no one could hear me. (The daughter says she thinks they could still hear me and that is embarrassing, but I asked the man who was standing next to me and he said no, and I trust him. He was reciting a 2 million stanza poem that he memorized and I only know that because he told me, not because I could hear him.)
We worked the afternoon shift and luckily we only had to work for about 2 hours. I got to man one of the clean up hoses when we were finished and squirt catsup off of all the equipment. I managed to get a lot of hot, catsupy water all over me, but it was fun to spray everything. I enjoyed spending some time giving service with my daughter, but I'm glad I don't have to work a production job everyday.
A final note concerning catsup. Even though it is spelled catsup and the pronunciation dictionary says to say it cat- sup. I was raised to call it all ketchup (catch up). Cat sup sounds like something I would give my cats for dinner. However, they might actually like some catsup on their cat food. They have been extremely interested in the shoes that I wore to the cannery since they got marinated in catsup water.
Today I am thankful for
the opportunity to do service with my daughter. I am enjoying having her around.
cheap and yummy wholewheat raisin bread from the Alpine Bread Bakery Outlet.
lentils.
As we entered and sat down by a gentleman from our ward I said, "Smells like we're doing ketchup today" and he replied, "Unless we're doing cat-sup." Now I grew up in small town Utah and we (most people, but not me) ate ketchup. Sometimes it was spelled ketchup and sometimes it was spelled catsup, but it was all the same thing and the names were interchangeable. According to this gentleman there is a difference. Of course when I got home I had to google ketchup vs. catsup and I am still pretty sure they are the same thing.
This is what I learned:
ketchup was what it was called back when it was first introduced to the world pre-1700.
The British called it catsup somewhere along the way.
Southerners seem to prefer catsup.
Some people say catsup is spicier.
Ketchup is the most accepted name today and is what is printed on most brands.
Also, if you type catsup it shows up as a mis-spelling on the computer.
If you are interested in more info (and some ketchup/catsup pictures) you can go here.
Well, back to the cannery. Today we canned (or bottled) catsup. See Exhibit A below.
I got the job of putting lids on the bottles after the catsup was squirted in. This is my most regular cannery assignment. I must look like I have good manual dexterity or something. The bottles come out 4 at a time, pretty quickly, but there are usually 3 or 4 people in this area, so if you are at the front of the line and you miss a bottle someone else will catch it later. If you are at the end of the line this is a REALLY BORING job and you spend most of your time spacing the bottles evenly to go through the machine that sucks the air out of them. Today I was 2nd in line, a good spot to be.
The youngest daughter got to remove the bottles from the cooling tunnel and place them on the conveyor belt to get labeled and boxed. I worked this area once. I liked it because it is a loud area, I got to wear ear plugs and I could sing my entire repertoire of songs, at the top of my lungs and no one could hear me. (The daughter says she thinks they could still hear me and that is embarrassing, but I asked the man who was standing next to me and he said no, and I trust him. He was reciting a 2 million stanza poem that he memorized and I only know that because he told me, not because I could hear him.)
We worked the afternoon shift and luckily we only had to work for about 2 hours. I got to man one of the clean up hoses when we were finished and squirt catsup off of all the equipment. I managed to get a lot of hot, catsupy water all over me, but it was fun to spray everything. I enjoyed spending some time giving service with my daughter, but I'm glad I don't have to work a production job everyday.
A final note concerning catsup. Even though it is spelled catsup and the pronunciation dictionary says to say it cat- sup. I was raised to call it all ketchup (catch up). Cat sup sounds like something I would give my cats for dinner. However, they might actually like some catsup on their cat food. They have been extremely interested in the shoes that I wore to the cannery since they got marinated in catsup water.
Today I am thankful for
the opportunity to do service with my daughter. I am enjoying having her around.
cheap and yummy wholewheat raisin bread from the Alpine Bread Bakery Outlet.
lentils.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Service With a Smile
Today I spent the morning in the temple. The temple is such a happy place to be. From the time I walked in the front door until I walked out a few hours later I was greeted with smiles where ever I went. I just couldn't help but smile back.
I decided to go to the cafeteria for a bowl of soup after I finished my session. The cashier was so friendly and cheerful as she counted money and washed tables and tried to figure out how to get the trays to move on the conveyor belt that wasn't cooperating. I thought about the service that she was providing for each of us in that room - the physical service and the emotional one as well.
Then as I was walking to the front door I passed by the chapel where another volunteer was playing the organ to an empty room. Her music was being piped into the waiting room to help set a reverent mood for those individuals preparing to do a session. No one there could even see her, or acknowledge her, but she was doing her part to serve with a smile.
I started thinking about the hours of service that are given in each temple throughout the world each day. I thought of the temple workers who put there personal trials aside once or twice a week to get up before dawn and come to serve in the temple or give up their Friday or Saturday night fun to serve in the Lord's house. Then I thought of the many patrons who also give service in the temples 5 days a week. Hours and hours of service, by hundreds of individuals, all given with a smile.
When I was leaving the dressing room today I stopped at the drinking fountain for some water. As I started walking again it felt like something was brushing against my leg. I looked down and there on the ground was a man's black dress sock. Now, yesterday when I pulled my skirt out of the dryer it felt like there was a sock inside it, but I searched and searched and couldn't come up with one. I glanced around to see if anyone had noticed as I bent down and picked the sock up. One of the temple workers was watching me and said, "I was just getting ready to tell you you had dropped something." I went over to talk to her. She hadn't realized what it was that I had picked up and I told her my laundry story. Another worker was listening in and said, "One of the reasons we come to the temple - to find lost things."
As I walked out of the front doors of the temple today I once again thought of my experience there and what the temple worker had said. After a not so very good day yesterday I had lost my perspective and my smile. I could definitely say as I walked to my car that I had found both and one black sock to boot!
Today I am grateful for
smiles.
temple promises.
my Relief Society Sisters.
I decided to go to the cafeteria for a bowl of soup after I finished my session. The cashier was so friendly and cheerful as she counted money and washed tables and tried to figure out how to get the trays to move on the conveyor belt that wasn't cooperating. I thought about the service that she was providing for each of us in that room - the physical service and the emotional one as well.
Then as I was walking to the front door I passed by the chapel where another volunteer was playing the organ to an empty room. Her music was being piped into the waiting room to help set a reverent mood for those individuals preparing to do a session. No one there could even see her, or acknowledge her, but she was doing her part to serve with a smile.
I started thinking about the hours of service that are given in each temple throughout the world each day. I thought of the temple workers who put there personal trials aside once or twice a week to get up before dawn and come to serve in the temple or give up their Friday or Saturday night fun to serve in the Lord's house. Then I thought of the many patrons who also give service in the temples 5 days a week. Hours and hours of service, by hundreds of individuals, all given with a smile.
When I was leaving the dressing room today I stopped at the drinking fountain for some water. As I started walking again it felt like something was brushing against my leg. I looked down and there on the ground was a man's black dress sock. Now, yesterday when I pulled my skirt out of the dryer it felt like there was a sock inside it, but I searched and searched and couldn't come up with one. I glanced around to see if anyone had noticed as I bent down and picked the sock up. One of the temple workers was watching me and said, "I was just getting ready to tell you you had dropped something." I went over to talk to her. She hadn't realized what it was that I had picked up and I told her my laundry story. Another worker was listening in and said, "One of the reasons we come to the temple - to find lost things."
As I walked out of the front doors of the temple today I once again thought of my experience there and what the temple worker had said. After a not so very good day yesterday I had lost my perspective and my smile. I could definitely say as I walked to my car that I had found both and one black sock to boot!
Today I am grateful for
smiles.
temple promises.
my Relief Society Sisters.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Flower Dusting
Saturday it was flower planting at the Mesa Temple, today it was flower dusting. I always enjoy getting to go inside the temple while it is closed for cleaning and just soak in the quiet, or not so quiet, peace that is always present there. Today rather than going off to my own private spot there were four or five women that gathered in the cafeteria and dusted arrangements that were brought in to us. It was fun to work as a group and get to visit and catch up on each others lives.
Every time I participate in this service I am reminded of how much effort goes into making the temple the special place that it is. I appreciate the temple even more after I have made my small contribution to this huge endeavor.
Every time I participate in this service I am reminded of how much effort goes into making the temple the special place that it is. I appreciate the temple even more after I have made my small contribution to this huge endeavor.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Planting Flowers
This morning our Stake had a service assignment planting flowers at the Mesa Temple. It was a cold (for Arizona), cloudy morning when we started at 7:00 AM. The flowers were dropped, still in their plastic containers, right where they were suppose to be planted. It almost looked like they had fallen from heaven for us to take care of. Lots of people came to help and the planting went quickly, but not quite quick enough to avoid the rain that started sprinkling down. After the planting we added compost. Lots and lots of compost. Some of the compost got blown from the truck and stuck to our wet jackets until we began to resemble mud people. I was wet and I was dirty but I'm still glad I got to make a small contribution to the beauty of the temple. I was home and showered by 8:30 and when my boys got up they questioned whether or not I had really gone. Of Course, I forgot to take my camera so I couldn't prove to them that I had. While I was down in the dirt digging flower holes I was reminded that one of the first "dates" my oldest daughter and my son-in-law went on in the Fall of 2007 was a service project to plant flowers at the temple. Those same flowers looked beautiful the next April when they had there wedding pictures taken with them. Unfortunately I am having a hard time coming up with any pictures with the flowers. Perhaps you can see them if you blow this picture up bigger. 
The week after the wedding these flowers were all dug up so the summer flowers could be put in. Kind of sad, but necessary in Arizona. Friday, April 17 - Today when I went to the temple I took some pictures of the flowers we planted on Saturday. They have been in for almost a week now, and while they are not quite up to par for temple flowers yet, they are still all alive and the compost is still in the planter where it belongs and off of the sidewalk where it doesn't belong. I wonder what they will look like by mid-summer? 
The week after the wedding these flowers were all dug up so the summer flowers could be put in. Kind of sad, but necessary in Arizona. Friday, April 17 - Today when I went to the temple I took some pictures of the flowers we planted on Saturday. They have been in for almost a week now, and while they are not quite up to par for temple flowers yet, they are still all alive and the compost is still in the planter where it belongs and off of the sidewalk where it doesn't belong. I wonder what they will look like by mid-summer? 
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Shoveling Snow
I went outside this morning to sweep the snow that had fallen during the night off of my mom's front porch so no unsuspecting visitors would slip on the ice that was hidden beneath it and injure themselves. While I was out there, I noticed that the senior citizens across the street were out shoveling their driveways. I decided if they could be that ambitious I should probably be shoveling too so I got the shovel and went to work. There was probably about 3 or 4 inches of new snow on the driveway and that came off quite easily. The old snow underneath, that cars had driven back and forth on, was a little harder to get up but I got most of it. As I was shoveling I was thinking that I should probably shovel the neighbor's driveway too. The couple that lives there both have had major surgeries recently and probably can't do it themselves. Then I looked down the street and each house I could see is occupied by an older person or couple who probably could use my help. I could shovel all day and still not reach everyone who could use my assistance. I decided my contribution would be to shovel the sidewalk and area around the mailboxes so that all the people could safely collect their mail. I know it wasn't much, but it was something. I was happy for all the neighbors later on in the day when the sun came out and most of the snow melted off of all their driveways. However I was kind of sad that I had worked that hard for nothing. Oh well, I don't get the opportunity to shovel snow that often and it was probably good for me.
Even though I grew up in Utah I don't remember shoveling snow very often. I have 2 older brothers and I think they probably pulled snow shoveling duty a lot, along with my dad. Sometimes it's nice to be a girl.My most vivid snow shoveling memory occurred after I was married. Our family lived in Orem. My hubby had been unemployed for a few months and was offered a job in Arizona working for his tribe. He went to Arizona to start work the middle of January and I stayed in Utah, with our 3 children, to sell the house. As luck would have it we had some major snowstorms while he was gone (which was about a month, but seemed a lot longer) and I spent quite a bit of time shoveling the driveway so prospective buyers could come and look at our house. We lived on a very busy street, so the kids had to stay in the house while I worked. The girls were 4 and 6 months and my son was not quite 3. I usually waited until the baby was asleep and the other 2 were good to entertain themselves or watch me out the window. One day however after I had been shoveling for a while my daughter opened the front door and yelled for help. I hurried inside to find my son sitting on the floor with a set of keys in his hand, his very black hand. It took me a minute to figure out what had happened but I soon spied the electrical outlet in the nearby wall was also black. The son had stuck the keys in the outlet and received quite the shock apparently. I quickly washed his had off and although it was a tiny bit red he didn't seem to be burned. He was lucky that he wasn't really hurt. He has always remembered this experience and is still cautious around plugs to this day.
Today I am thankful for
a warm house to go into after I have been shoveling snow.
no line at the post office.
arms.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A Part of Something Big
I do online indexing for Family Search.
It is somewhat addictive to me,
but something that I can feel good about doing
when I don't feel like doing anything else.
Usually I just index whatever pops up when I push download
but as I have mentioned before
I really enjoy(?) reading death records
so recently I have been choosing Massachusetts Death records
over the 1916 Canadian Census
which is what automatically comes up.
I'll do a Canadian Census page every once in a while
and then reward myself with a few pages of Death records.
I know I sound warped, but I'm not.
At least I don't think I am.
The Canadian Census is hand-written,
sometimes hard to read,
and the Massachusetts Death records are often typed.
Which would you choose?
Anyway, on with my topic.
The day before Thanksgiving I got an e-mail from FSIndexing
that said that their goal was
to have the Canadian 1916 Census
completed by December 3
and that it was only 43% done.
They were asking all indexers
to please fit in at least one page
during the holiday weekend (about 30 minutes).
Suddenly I was overcome with guilt
for not just hitting download
and indexing what came up.
I felt like this shortfall
was somewhat my fault.
I started thinking about all those Canadian families
that possibly weren't being united because of me.
Well, rather than feel guilty
I started indexing the Canadian 1916 Census
and have actually enjoyed it a lot.
I did a couple of pages from Alberta
that were all Mormon settlers
which was fun and easy
because the families were so large
there weren't that many surnames on one page.
I did a couple of pages from
Indian Territory in Manitoba.
The Indians were the only ones on this census
that could list their ethnicity as Canadian,
everyone else had to be what their ancestors were
even if they were generations removed from that country.
Yesterday there was a message from Family Search
that said this project is now 87% complete.
It is pretty amazing to me
to think of all the people through out the church
and maybe not just through out the Church
but through out the country
and maybe not just through out the country
but through out the world
who have been working with me
to accomplish this one united goal.
It feels great to be a part of something big!
What a difference we can make
when we all work together!
If you aren't already a part of
the wonderful world of indexing
it's easy to join.
Just go hereand click on get started.
I think you'll be glad you did.
Today I am thankful for
my van.
medicine that clears out my nose so I can breath every now and then.
Kleenex.
It is somewhat addictive to me,
but something that I can feel good about doing
when I don't feel like doing anything else.
Usually I just index whatever pops up when I push download
but as I have mentioned before
I really enjoy(?) reading death records
so recently I have been choosing Massachusetts Death records
over the 1916 Canadian Census
which is what automatically comes up.
I'll do a Canadian Census page every once in a while
and then reward myself with a few pages of Death records.
I know I sound warped, but I'm not.
At least I don't think I am.
The Canadian Census is hand-written,
sometimes hard to read,
and the Massachusetts Death records are often typed.
Which would you choose?
Anyway, on with my topic.
The day before Thanksgiving I got an e-mail from FSIndexing
that said that their goal was
to have the Canadian 1916 Census
completed by December 3
and that it was only 43% done.
They were asking all indexers
to please fit in at least one page
during the holiday weekend (about 30 minutes).
Suddenly I was overcome with guilt
for not just hitting download
and indexing what came up.
I felt like this shortfall
was somewhat my fault.
I started thinking about all those Canadian families
that possibly weren't being united because of me.
Well, rather than feel guilty
I started indexing the Canadian 1916 Census
and have actually enjoyed it a lot.
I did a couple of pages from Alberta
that were all Mormon settlers
which was fun and easy
because the families were so large
there weren't that many surnames on one page.
I did a couple of pages from
Indian Territory in Manitoba.
The Indians were the only ones on this census
that could list their ethnicity as Canadian,
everyone else had to be what their ancestors were
even if they were generations removed from that country.
Yesterday there was a message from Family Search
that said this project is now 87% complete.
It is pretty amazing to me
to think of all the people through out the church
and maybe not just through out the Church
but through out the country
and maybe not just through out the country
but through out the world
who have been working with me
to accomplish this one united goal.
It feels great to be a part of something big!
What a difference we can make
when we all work together!
If you aren't already a part of
the wonderful world of indexing
it's easy to join.
Just go hereand click on get started.
I think you'll be glad you did.
Today I am thankful for
my van.
medicine that clears out my nose so I can breath every now and then.
Kleenex.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Yes For Marriage!
Tonight the hubby,
the youngest son
and I
had the opportunity
to volunteer
and make phone calls
about Proposition 102.
There were several reasons
why I wasn't very excited
about doing this.
#1. I hate talking on the telephone.
I mean absolutely detest calling
even my very best friends and family.
I think this is very close to a phobia.
Talking on the phone scares me.
My most fear-filled memory of my mission
involves calling someone on the telephone.
Weird, I know.
#2. I hate it when people call me about political issues.
I will admit I usually just hang up
when I receive political calls.
#3. This is a controversial topic in Arizona right now.
I am not a controversial person
(although my husband may disagree
with that statement sometimes).
I don't like to argue with people
and even though I believe strongly in
the importance of marriage
being only between
one man and one woman
I don't feel like I am very good
at expressing my feelings about
this Proposition in a clear and concise way.
I was afraid to do this
but I decided that sometimes
I need to be willing
to leave my comfort zone and
speak up for what I believe in.
With that long preface
let me just say
that I had a positive experience tonight.
Even though my heart
nearly pounded out of my chest
each time I dialed a number -
I survived.
I spent 3 hours making phone calls
and probably spoke to about
25 actual people.
Of those 25,
Today I am grateful for
sons who are willing to help me when I need their help.
a husband that lets me volunteer him for things and doesn't complain.
the privilege to live in a free country where I have the right and responsibility to vote according to my conscience.
probably 10 of them
were wrong numbers,
a few of them hung up on me,
and the others were all
willing to tell me they were
voting yes on Prop 102
and were quite pleasant
while doing so.
It didn't turn out to be
nearly as traumatic
as I had imagined
and I even got my
very own Yes on 102 sign
for my front yard.
Another step out of my comfort zone.
Today I am grateful forsons who are willing to help me when I need their help.
a husband that lets me volunteer him for things and doesn't complain.
the privilege to live in a free country where I have the right and responsibility to vote according to my conscience.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Second Chances
Our Family was invited to join a few other families in the neighborhood for a Family Home Evening Service activity on Monday night. We shoveled and spread gravel in another neighbor's yard. My sons weren't exactly thrilled with the idea. They didn't appreciate their mom providing them with the opportunity to look outside themselves for a couple of hours. I am very grateful that they did it anyway, but I'm not sure they received the full blessings that were available for this good deed.
Luckily for them they were given another opportunity to earn blessings tonight when the Young Men in the ward got to go and finish the project that we had started on Monday. They even got to do it in the rain this time.
My sons might see this as double punishment but I see it as a loving Heavenly Father giving them a second chance to receive the blessings he so wants to give to them. I think I see a little sense of humor on His part as well.
I believe that there are certain things that each one of us, personally and collectively, need to learn while we are here on earth and I firmly believe that Heavenly Father will continue to give us opportunities to learn them until we get it right.
Heavenly Father believes in second chances (more if we need them) and I'm grateful. Whether those second chances come dressed up like an invitation to go to a movie with your friends, or a girlfriend's desire to share the Gospel or another temptation dropping out of cyperspace I hope we can recognize them for what they are. A second chance to get it right!
Today I am thankful for
Friends who encourage my family and I to give service.
Promptings from the Holy Ghost.
Rain.
Second Chances.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Good to Go!
This morning both daughters, both hubbys, and I desended on the daughter's school to put the finishing touches on her classroom so she'll be ready for school to start on Monday.
We all worked hard and made lots of progress.
The young hubby was given the dangerous climbing and stapling jobs.
The older hubby was sent on garbage duty, car loading duty, and screw purchasing and placement duty. He got a work out.
The teacher daughter specialized in lesson plans.
The other daughter was the desk washer. She declared them clean enough to sit on.
She was also the official name writer and I was responsible for bulletin board completion and name tag placement.
Finally we were all happy to say that the room was good to go and we went to Sweet Tomatoes to celebrate!
Today I am grateful
for helpful husbands.
for free lunch. There is such a thing
for computers that work right when I'm typing up the ward bulletin.
My birthmonth present today was a fun, paper, desk top suitcase that I bought for 50 cents at the ARC thriftstore.
We all worked hard and made lots of progress.
The young hubby was given the dangerous climbing and stapling jobs.
The older hubby was sent on garbage duty, car loading duty, and screw purchasing and placement duty. He got a work out.
The teacher daughter specialized in lesson plans.
The other daughter was the desk washer. She declared them clean enough to sit on.
She was also the official name writer and I was responsible for bulletin board completion and name tag placement.
Finally we were all happy to say that the room was good to go and we went to Sweet Tomatoes to celebrate!
Today I am grateful
for helpful husbands.
for free lunch. There is such a thing
for computers that work right when I'm typing up the ward bulletin.
My birthmonth present today was a fun, paper, desk top suitcase that I bought for 50 cents at the ARC thriftstore.
Now I just have to decide what I am going to put in it. It's too small for my clothes when I want to run away.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Just Me and a Temple Tree
One of the sisters in our ward is the individual who arranges and cares for the artificial flowers in the Mesa Arizona Temple. When the temple closes for cleaning she asks for volunteers to go in and help her perform upkeep on the arrangements. This consists of dusting them as well as rearranging them. I am not a flower arranger, but I do know how to dust. You may not believe this if you ever come to my house, but just believe me when I say I do.
It is a different experience to go to the temple in my street clothes and see the behind the scenes work that goes into making the temple look so wonderful on a daily basis. I have really enjoyed the opportunities that I have had to participate in this small service. I have quietly dusted flowers in the cafeteria, the baptistry, the foyer,the stairways, the celestial room, the dressing room and the women's restroom. Even though there may be carpet cleaners roaring, or hammers pounding, or any other number of sounds in the background, the spirit inside the temple is still the same. I love to be able to feel that spirit!
It is a different experience to go to the temple in my street clothes and see the behind the scenes work that goes into making the temple look so wonderful on a daily basis. I have really enjoyed the opportunities that I have had to participate in this small service. I have quietly dusted flowers in the cafeteria, the baptistry, the foyer,the stairways, the celestial room, the dressing room and the women's restroom. Even though there may be carpet cleaners roaring, or hammers pounding, or any other number of sounds in the background, the spirit inside the temple is still the same. I love to be able to feel that spirit!
The last time I went I took my oldest son and we were responsible for leveling all of the paintings in the temple. You don't really notice how many paintings there are until you've dusted everyone of them and made sure they are straight.
Today I was able to spend a couple of hours at the temple. My assignment was tree dusting. I spent most of the time I was there bonding with one particular tree that is located on the way into the women's dressing room. Apparently this tree attracts the most dust of any plant in the temple. It was very obvious that it needed dusted. I got to stand on a ladder and spray cleaner on each individual leaf and then wipe it off. I was told to dust the whole tree and then double check it. I did this and would think I had got every last speck of dust and then all the sudden I'd look and there would be more. After 2 and a half hours I think I finally got it all, plus cleaned an arrangement and another tree in the foyer. I was instructed to go for quality not quantity, but I hope the rest of the volunteers that came today made more progress than I did. There were a lot of plants that needed to be finished before the temple opens at 5:30 tomorrow morning.
The sister in charge always shares her favorite quote about service with us. It says,
"God does not begin by asking
Today I was able to spend a couple of hours at the temple. My assignment was tree dusting. I spent most of the time I was there bonding with one particular tree that is located on the way into the women's dressing room. Apparently this tree attracts the most dust of any plant in the temple. It was very obvious that it needed dusted. I got to stand on a ladder and spray cleaner on each individual leaf and then wipe it off. I was told to dust the whole tree and then double check it. I did this and would think I had got every last speck of dust and then all the sudden I'd look and there would be more. After 2 and a half hours I think I finally got it all, plus cleaned an arrangement and another tree in the foyer. I was instructed to go for quality not quantity, but I hope the rest of the volunteers that came today made more progress than I did. There were a lot of plants that needed to be finished before the temple opens at 5:30 tomorrow morning.
The sister in charge always shares her favorite quote about service with us. It says,
"God does not begin by asking
us about our ability,
but only about our availability,
and if we prove our dependability,
he will increase our capability."
but only about our availability,
and if we prove our dependability,
he will increase our capability."
I also appreciate this message. I am relieved that I do not have to have huge amounts of talent or skill to be able to give service. If I am willing to serve, and make the time to do it, I will be blessed to be able to do my job well - even if it is only dusting a tree one leaf at a time to help make the temple the beautiful place that it is. I CAN make a small difference in the lives of others and I am glad.
Today I am grateful for
Time in the temple to ponder and feel the spirit.
A son who made homemade pizza for dinner.
A few sprinkles of rain. Every little bit counts!
I went to Rubios today to buy me my favorite salad for my birthmonth present, but I was sad to find out that the Healthmex Chicken Salad is no longer on their menu. I settled for their new Tropical Chicken Salad, and while it wasn't too bad it wasn't the wonderful present I had hoped for.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sharing Spiritual Food with Some Sisters
Since the change in the Relief Society program to only having an organized Enrichment night four times a year I have really missed the opportunity to gather together with all the sisters in the ward and visit, bond and share ideas. Especially now that I am in the nursery on Sunday, it seems like I never see anyone at church unless they are under 3 or have a child under 3. Tonight we had an Enrichment meeting and I really had to talk myself into going. Even though I miss being with my ward family it's just easier to stay home than to make the effort to go. I am glad that I went though because I had a really fun time just laughing and learning and I even came away a little motivated to be a more compassionate person. We'll see if I can actually put that motivation into action. We had a sister share some stories and thoughts about service and it was so wonderful to sit and be taught and to join in a discussion with the other women who were there. I love my primary calling, but tonight I realized that my spirit right now is very undernourished and that I really miss being taught the gospel in Relief Society and Sunday School each Sunday. I need to make a more concerted effort to be sure that I include spiritual food in my life every day. It felt good to be fed tonight. One idea that was shared that I want to remember is when you visit someone who is faced with adversity rather than ask if there is anything you can do for them ask, "What are you most worried about right now?" Their answer will give you an idea of where they need your help most and then you can figure out a way to help address that worry. Tonight I am grateful for My membership - in the largest women's organization in the world. A husband - who takes out the trash. Glad Press and Seal Plastic Wrap - that was finally cheap enough that I didn't feel extravagant buying it. 
This is amazing plastic wrap that is tacky on the back and actually sticks to the bowl instead of popping off. I have wanted to buy some since the first time I saw it, but it is always so expensive. I think the decorative snow men are a nice, cool touch when it is 108 outside, don't you?
This is amazing plastic wrap that is tacky on the back and actually sticks to the bowl instead of popping off. I have wanted to buy some since the first time I saw it, but it is always so expensive. I think the decorative snow men are a nice, cool touch when it is 108 outside, don't you?
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