Gila Valley Temple Trip

While planning some summer activities for our Relief Society sisters to enjoy, we had the idea of taking a day trip to one of the Arizona temples that we don’t frequently visit.  We chose the Gila Valley temple and began making plans. 

It seemed like at every turn we were questioned,  “Why go all the way (a 3 hour trip each way) to the Gila Valley when there is a temple in your own back yard?”.

We started out saying things like, “It will be an adventure”, “It sounds fun”, and “It’s something we haven’t done before”.  However, after being asked numerous times, we decided perhaps we needed to really think about this activity.  Why were we considering it?  What did we want the sisters to experience and gain on this trip?  Was it worth the time commitment and expense?  Was it really something we felt that our Heavenly Father would want us to do? 

As we thought and prayed about it we felt the Lord’s approval and came up with several important goals for this trip.  First, we felt that it would be good for the sisters to really have to sacrifice an entire day to going to the temple.  We are very blessed to live only 10 minutes from the Mesa temple.  Many women in the church have to plan and save and dedicate large amounts of time and money to be able to visit the nearest temple to them.  By making this effort, we hoped that our women would be more grateful for the availability of the temple and the 3 hours total it usually takes us to go to the temple would be a little less daunting. 

We also felt that the time we would be able to spend together as sisters, traveling to and from the temple and while there, would be a good bonding experience.  Seldom do we get to really visit with one another and touch on more than the bare basics of what is happening in our lives.  With these two main goals in mind we continued to move forward.

 It seemed as though things still didn’t readily fall into place and there were setbacks and challenges along the way, but we pressed on.  When we looked at our schedule we determined that the best endowment session for us to attend would be at 1:15 PM.  As we researched this though we discovered that this session was done only in Spanish.  The majority of us were English speakers, but we determined that this too could be a positive learning experience and we could make it work if the temple had enough headsets for all of us.  The temple assured us that they could accommodate our group and that they would be happy to have us there.

We originally had 24 sisters and a few husbands sign up to attend.  We arranged drivers and had just enough seats for everyone.  The relief society president was planning on transporting 7 sisters in her vehicle.  A few days before we were to go she decided to have the tires on her car checked and rotated.  Much to her disappointment, she was informed that 2 of her tires were unsafe and that she shouldn’t even drive to Phoenix on them.  In addition, the tires she needed would have to be ordered and wouldn’t be available until the next week.  We were down a large vehicle and didn’t know what to do.  However, just the day before a sister who was not originally planning on attending had called and asked if she could go. As the relief society president pondered on whom she could ask to drive, this sister came to mind.  She had a van that she was willing to drive and we were good to go again.

Since we were going to be gone all day we had decided to provide lunch for everyone.  We were just planning to eat at the picnic pavilion located close to the temple.  We knew that it was July and it would be hot, but thought we could make it work.  One of the sisters called a couple of days before the trip and was extremely worried about the excessive heat forecast and felt that we needed to make other arrangements.  We considered finding a church building that we could have access to, but as we thought about what we should do our president was impressed to go a different route. 

There is a former ward member, in her nineties, who moved into her daughter’s home in Thatcher a few years ago.  When we first began to plan this trip we thought that it might be nice for a few of us to visit her while we were in the area, and even got a detailed map to her home from one of the other sisters who had been to visit in the past.  As the time drew closer though we realized that we didn’t really have time to fit in a visit and let the idea pass.  The relief society president felt very strongly that she should ask if we could eat lunch at this sister’s home. She was hesitant to essentially invite 20+ people to lunch, even though we would be providing the food, but the feeling persisted and she started making phone calls.  It took a few tries and a couple of days to finally connect with the daughter, but she was very willing to have us descend upon them in force the next day.   What a sweet, gracious relief society sister.   We all had such a pleasant time in her home and enjoyed renewing acquaintances.  It turned out that not only our former ward member, but her daughter as well, knew some of the sisters that came.  When we got ready to leave, the daughter pulled us aside and confided that her mom had been having a difficult time and that this visit had really perked her up.  She felt it was just what she needed and thanked us for coming. 

It was amazing to us how everything turned out the way it was supposed to in so many different ways.  We believe that we accomplished our original goals and some of Heavenly Father’s plans as well. Many of the sisters commented that it was valuable for them to see how others sacrificed to fit temple attendance into their lives and that they were grateful they lived so close to the temple.  It was wonderful to see strong friendships formed and strengthened in each vehicle during the journey.

We truly felt the Lord’s help and approval numerous times throughout this experience.  One sister felt inspired to go to the temple at the last minute and her vehicle was the one we needed to make the trip work.

Another sister felt inspired that the park wasn’t where we should eat lunch and several lives were blessed because of the change that was made.

At our gas station pit stops we attracted a lot of attention and were able to share our love for the temple and its importance and to engage in some simple missionary work. 

We used every available translating headset that the temple owned, but our one Spanish-speaking sister was touched by the opportunity to attend a session in her native language with all of her relief society sisters. 

It really was  a wonderful and fulfilling experience for all who attended and a day well spent.  

11/11/11 11:11 AM

Today we had a Relief Society activity to work on some of our unfinished crafts. It wasn't too well attended - way too many things to do on a day off from work and school, but those of us that were there enjoyed ourselves immensely. One of the sisters set her alarm to go off just before 11:11 so we could all make a wish. Here are the wish makers. I love all the intense thought that is going on.

I still had time to make my own wish. 11:11 does last for a whole minute you know. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of my thoughtful face.

This is the project I was working on today.

I bought this sewing at a thrift store before last Thanksgiving. I just think the children and animals giving thanks are so sweet. Now it is almost Thanksgiving again and I have not made much progress toward my goal of turning it into a pillow. Well actually, my friend's cat thought it made a perfect pillow just the way it is.

It has been awhile since I did any crewel like this and my eyes and my glasses had a hard time working together to do it. I find it is easiest to take my glasses off and hold it close to see, but then I get a big kink in my neck and I can't sew and watch TV with my glasses off. Getting older is full of so many challenges. Maybe by next Thanksgiving I will actually have this pillow on display.

Today I am thankful for

brakes that actually work on my van even though it took 9 months, 3 attempts, over $1,000 and 2 establishments to finally get it right.

women who know me and still like me.

Fall weather.

all the men and women who have sacrificed so much so I can enjoy life as I know it.

I love to see the temple

I'm going there today

To feel the holy spirit

To listen and to pray.


Tonight was our ward Relief Society temple night and I really wasn't too excited about going. I love to go to the temple, but I would much rather go to a session during the daytime and I am lucky enough that that is usually an option for me. It is much more difficult for me to want to go to the temple in the evening and when I do I like to make a point of taking my hubby with me, since that is the only time he can usually go. I have been in a very anti-social mood lately and I really didn't want to go and be friendly with anyone, even my Relief Society sisters that I really like. However, I have come to find out that when I don't feel like doing something that is probably the very thing I NEED to do, so off I went to the temple. I'm glad I did! There were only 5 of us there and 2 of the sisters are much older, nearly blind and not in the best of health. I'm sure they would have chosen to attend the temple at a more "convenient" time, but I was touched by their dilligence and their willingness to give service in the temple. These are 2 women that I believe are close to perfect and I would love to grow up to be like them. I was glad that tonight I had made a choice that moved me a few steps forward along the path to exaltation with these good examples. It was such a sweet experience to share hugs with them in the celestial room and to feel of their love and the love of my Heavenly Father. Today I am thankful for my eyesight. temple night with a few of my Relief Society sisters. an excuse to hang out with some good friends for some food and friendship - doesn't happen nearly often enough.

Wordy Gratitude List

Today I am thankful for

a son who feels and follows promptings that help keep him safe. The youngest son was driving home from school after he had dropped a friend off. He usually goes out onto a main road from this house to travel home, but today he had a feeling that he should go a different way. As he was driving past our church the car started blowing really hot air and suddenly died so he coasted into the church parking lot, parked the car and assessed the situation. He couldn't get the car to start so he called me and I went and got him. A few days ago a woman's car stalled on the freeway and before she could get out of traffic she was rear ended, her car burst into flames and she was killed. The son was sure he would have ended up the same way if he had been on a busy road. I'm not sure that the situation was that dire, but I'm glad he acted upon his feelings and that all turned out well -for him at least. We're still not sure what is wrong with the car.
happy surprises at the grocery store. Today I went to Safeway to buy some groceries. Cheese was one of the items on my list because they had their 2 lb blocks on sale for $4.49. When I got to the dairy department some of the cheese had a .30 cent coupon on the package. I was happy because that made them even a better deal. When I checked out they quadrupled the coupon to $1.00. 2 lbs of cheese for $3.49. Happy day!
one woman who works really hard so a lot of women can have fun being crafty together. There is a sister in our ward who loves to make wooden crafts so she has taken it upon herself to plan a monthly Relief Society Craft project. She cuts all the wood herself and collects all the supplies for us so all we have to do is show up, pay our money (cost of materials only) and create. She is also very willing to accommodate all of the out-of-the ward daughters who want to come with their mothers. It is always a fun evening. Tonight we painted, papered and decorated letters to spell the word LOVE. The sister's husband came home toward the end of the evening and announced that he was going to tell all his buddies in the High Priest's Quorum on Sunday that a whole bunch of Relief Society women came to his house this week and made love.

If the Stake President hears about this our craft nights might be a thing of the past.

Where did November go?

I can't believe that November is over. It seems like it was just Halloween and now, here it is December and the countdown to Christmas has truly begun. Tonight the oldest daughter and I attended my Relief Society craft night and enjoyed socializing and being "creative" (as creative as you can be when someone else prepares the entire project for you, which is my kind of crafting). We made these cute Christmas Countdown blocks.


Is anyone besides me feeling a little stressed?

Green Smoothies

At our last Relief Society Enrichment Meeting one of the sisters and her 3 little girls taught us how to make green smoothies. The main ingredient of this drink is green vegetables (they used mostly fresh spinach in theirs, packed to the top of their blend-tec blender). They also added a few frozen berries, frozen bananas, an apple, some kale and water. Everyone in this family, except the baby, drinks one of these concoctions every morning before breakfast. The girls each drink a pint and the parents drink a quart each. The mom says then she knows her family has gotten their minimum fruit and vegetable intake taken care of for the day. We were all given a sample taste and I didn't think it tasted half bad, but I was pretty sure it would be a tough sale with my family members.
After the youngest son donated blood I was looking for a good way to rebuild his iron. I joked that if he didn't figure out something healthy to eat I was going to make him drink green smoothies. He surprised me by saying "You make it and I'll drink it." So, I made it. I followed the same basic recipe that we received in Enrichment, minus the kale and the apple, which I didn't have. I also added a quarter of a lemon, peel and all, because the actual recipe we received at Relief Society included one. This is what it looked like when I handed it to the son.

This color is suppose to be purple, but it doesn't really look purple to me.
This was the son's face after the first drink.

He drank the entire glass, commenting non stop, "I can't believe I'm drinking this even though I know what's in it." "This looks like the scum we cleaned off of the bottom of our swimming pool." "This doesn't taste nearly as bad as I thought it would." When he finished he informed me that I was making him a green smoothie every morning from now on
and I have.
I have done a little experimenting with different fruits and we both have decided that we like the pineapple, strawberry, mango, papaya frozen mix from Costco the best. We also like it a lot better with frozen bananas than fresh ones. I can live without the lemon, but the son insists it is the key ingredient. This combo actually does make a very green smoothie.

This is the son's special green, green smoothie glass. It doesn't quite hold a quart, but I'm still thinking it's better than nothing. The son believes that this "radioactive green" smoothie must enhance dormant super powers. I guess we'll find out sometime if that's true. Now I need to start experimenting with a wider variety of green veggies and convince the rest of the family that they are really missing out on something wonderful. It actually tastes pretty good if you don't look at it while you're drinking.

Today I am thankful for

all my past experience with copy machines, paper cutters, packing tape and laminators. It came in handy today.
99 degrees at 6:00 PM.
a dinner date with my hubby.

One year ago today - How to Build IKEA furniture

Happy Anniversary

Today the hubby and I have been married for 26 years and guess what we did tonight to commemorate the occasion? Well, I went to Relief Society Enrichment night with my oldest daughter and the hubby finished up his home teaching with our youngest son. When I found out that Enrichment night was on our anniversary I was a little sad. It seems like getting together with my sisters in the Relief Society is such a rare occurrence anymore. I don't get to meet with them in Relief Society on Sunday and our ward seems to be a little light on having mid week activities. I really miss monthly enrichment meetings and the opportunity to socialize with the women in my ward (although I definitely don't miss planning those meetings and then executing the plan on a monthly basis). I asked my oldest son if it was wrong of me to want to go to Enrichment rather than to go out with my sweetheart. He seemed to be appalled that I would even consider the idea, but the more I thought about it, the more I really wanted to attend Enrichment. I discussed it with the hubby and he said whatever I wanted to do would be fine. He made the decision a little easier when he inadvertently scheduled a home teaching appointment on that night as well. I am pretty sure that I may be weird, but having my husband and son fulfill their home teaching responsibilities means a lot more to me than going out to dinner to celebrate my anniversary. One of the reasons I fell in love with my husband,way back when, was because I strongly believed that he was the kind of man who could get me and my children back to live with our Heavenly Father again some day. When I see him serving the Lord by serving others and magnifying his church callings I am reminded of why I married him in the first place. Oh, and by the way, I believe that I made the right decision 26 years ago and tonight as well.

Today I am thankful for

a husband who still loves me after 26 years.
the ability to look at the eternal perspective of life.
my Relief Society sisters.

One year ago today - Poopy little Poky, 25 years!

Teaching for our Times

Even though I absolutely love my nursery calling, every once in a while I really miss attending Relief Society. I miss associating with my Relief Society sisters on a weekly basis. I miss being taught the gospel and learning from the lesson material and the sisters comments and personal experiences. For several years I had the opportunity of being the Teaching for our Times lesson instuctor in Relief Society. I loved that calling. I learned so much as I studied the current conference talks and prepared to share them with the class. However, the thing I enjoyed the most were the insights that were shared during the actual lessons. I miss those spiritual, bonding moments. Today was the Teaching for our Times lesson and I missed it. I also missed a lot of my sweet nursery children today. We only had 2 cute little boys to hang out with.

One year ago today - Demolition

Holiday Centerpiece

This morning I went to an enrichment class and was led through the process of creating beautiful centerpieces made out of evergreen branches. This has been a yearly event in our ward and it was the second time I have attempted to create a masterpiece. The sister that is in charge belongs to a professional florist family and is extremely talented. I love how she is so positive in her instruction and her suggestions. She makes me feel that I am just so amazing and that is a lot of fun. I know that basically she does everything except actually place the branches and decorations, but I leave there feeling like an artist!

This is the centerpiece that I made to take to tonight's engagement party at the future in-laws house. Here it is undecorated

and here is the finished product

I thought it ended up looking great, if I do say so myself.

This is the one I created for myself. I used the same embellishments that I used last year, but I wasn't as happy with it as I was before. I still think it looks pretty good though and it cost me absolutely nothing. I am also sure that it smells very Christmasy, unfortunately I can't smell anything at the moment.

It was a fun morning.

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?