Today I attended the funeral of Gwendolyn Lucille Palmer. She is the grandmother of one of my good friends and she has always been "Grandma Jones" to me which is interesting because there's no Jones in her name. Gwen lived with my friend for several years and I had the privilege of being her visiting teacher for some of those years. She was an inspiration to visit with. She was in declining health all of the time I knew her and was unable to do so many of the things that she loved to do, but she still made sure she did her gospel study and scripture reading. We would always find her sitting in her recliner with her treasured Articles of Faith book, the Ensign and the scriptures on the table next to her. She made sure our discussions were always gospel centered and I gained new insights from her on whatever topic we visited about that day. She was a great example to me and I am looking forward to my next visit with her and the things I will be able to learn from her then.
A few months ago I attended the funeral of another ward member and was struck by comments made about the legacy he had left for his children. Since that time I have done some musing on what my legacy to my children might be and quite frankly I haven't been able to think of much. Today one of the speakers (a son-in-law I think) made the comment "Gwen didn't leave us a large inheritance but she left us a spiritual treasure. She left us a path to follow." As he made that last statement it really hit me. That is the legacy I want to leave for my posterity. I want to leave them a path to follow. Not just any path, but the path that leads them to eternal life with their Savior, Jesus Christ and the rest of our family. What a wonderful legacy that will be.
Today I am grateful for
Relief Society sisters that support each other.
visiting teaching friendships.
a good example.
Showing posts with label visiting teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label visiting teaching. Show all posts
Friday, May 15, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Orange Blossoms
My husband, 3 of our children and I moved to Arizona 20 years ago this month. This really wasn't a move I was excited about since I was leaving behind a lot of my extended family and many friends. However, this was where my hubby had a job, so I knew I needed to adjust and learn to be happy. It took a while for this to feel like home, but I did quickly find some things that I appreciated about my new residence. The very first thing I fell in love with following our arrival were the orange blossoms. I can still remember the evening when I walked down the street to the church to attend an enrichment meeting and was almost overwhelmed with the sweet, wonderful scent of all the orange trees in bloom. I had never smelled anything like it before. I still love to breath in that marvelous fragrance every year as Spring arrives.
Today my companion and I finished up our visiting teaching for the month. After we were done talking with our sister she suggested that we go out in her backyard and pick ourselves a bag full of oranges. She wanted the oranges off the trees before the new buds actually turned into blossoms and we were happy to be of help after all visiting teaching is all about service isn't it? I enjoyed the fragrant aroma as I stuffed my bag with large, beautiful fruit. After we left her home and were driving down the road those wonderful blossoms hit us in full force though. My companion and I took turns sniffling and sneezing all the way to my house and could both hardly breath by the time we arrived. Those orange blossoms may smell fabulous, but they sure set off my allergies. I still think it's worth it though.
Today I am grateful for
my son(s) that loves to sing.
free oranges.
boys that aren't afraid to watch "The Little Mermaid" for family home evening and enjoy it.
Today my companion and I finished up our visiting teaching for the month. After we were done talking with our sister she suggested that we go out in her backyard and pick ourselves a bag full of oranges. She wanted the oranges off the trees before the new buds actually turned into blossoms and we were happy to be of help after all visiting teaching is all about service isn't it? I enjoyed the fragrant aroma as I stuffed my bag with large, beautiful fruit. After we left her home and were driving down the road those wonderful blossoms hit us in full force though. My companion and I took turns sniffling and sneezing all the way to my house and could both hardly breath by the time we arrived. Those orange blossoms may smell fabulous, but they sure set off my allergies. I still think it's worth it though.
Today I am grateful for
my son(s) that loves to sing.
free oranges.
boys that aren't afraid to watch "The Little Mermaid" for family home evening and enjoy it.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
No Such Thing As a Free Lunch?
The saying goes that there is no such thing as a free lunch, but even though I understand the sentiment expressed in this statement, there are times when I feel inclined to disagree.
This has been a week of free lunches for me so far.
Monday the oldest daughter had the day off of work for President's day, but her hubby still had to go to school, poor guy, so she asked me if I would like to take a road trip in her new car to Glendale for a salad at Rumba Cafe. Once, a long time ago, there used to be a Rumba Cafe in Mesa and my family, friends and I frequented it often, but one day it closed and we were all sad. Every now and then we get the urge to take a drive and eat some good food. This was one of those every now and thens. The daughter drove and paid for lunch.
Free Lunch - Day 1!
Yes, I probably have bought her lunch in the past and yes, I will probably be expected to do something nice for her sometime in the future, and there is always the possibility that that lunch will put her over the financial edge and she will end up having to move in with me to save money, but for today, my lunch was free.
Thank you dear daughter.
My visiting teaching companion and I have been helping one of our visiting teachees sort and pack and organize her belongings as she prepares to move to Missouri. This project has been going on for a l-o-n-g time. We are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel or more accurately the taillights on the 3rd moving van heading for the new home and so yesterday we celebrated and the recipient of our help treated us to lunch. We went to a restaurant called Iguana Macks in Mesa. It calls itself a roadhouse and had some very eclectic food and unique decor. They are known for their ciabbata bread and dipping sauce and I will agree that it was very tasty, as was my soup and salad lunch special. At the end of lunch the bill passed right over me.
Free Lunch - Day 2!
OK, I do realize that I definitely invested more time and energy in this endeavor than what the lunch probably cost, but the lunch was a bonus and somewhat unexpected, and therefore I am calling it free.
Thank you dear Relief Society sister.
Today brought my visiting teaching companion and I together once again armed with packing tape and a sharpie marker. We were surprised when we arrived at the almost empty home to discover that we were invited to be guests at the next door neighbor's house for lunch. The neighbors are a very hospitable older couple who are also members of the church. The wife is Hawaiian and Japanese and grew up in Hawaii and she and her husband spend at least a few months every year in Hawaii where they own a home, store and restaurant which they lease to a cousin there. They are a delightful couple with lots of interesting stories that they enjoy sharing. We were served Teriaki pork sandwiches and fried rice and it was delicious. I don't really know this couple very well, since health problems and travel have kept them from attending church on a regular basis since our wards were combined, but I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with them and hearing about all the adventures they have had during their lives.
Free Lunch - Day 3!
I do honestly believe that this could truly be considered a free lunch. I didn't do anything to deserve this and I don't think there is anything expected from me in return. We were told that we were eating leftovers that would otherwise have gone to waste. They can feed me their leftovers anytime.
Thank you dear neighbors.
Today I am thankful for
nice people.
an upbeat phone call from my mom.
the freedom to sit and listen to stories if I want to.
This has been a week of free lunches for me so far.
Monday the oldest daughter had the day off of work for President's day, but her hubby still had to go to school, poor guy, so she asked me if I would like to take a road trip in her new car to Glendale for a salad at Rumba Cafe. Once, a long time ago, there used to be a Rumba Cafe in Mesa and my family, friends and I frequented it often, but one day it closed and we were all sad. Every now and then we get the urge to take a drive and eat some good food. This was one of those every now and thens. The daughter drove and paid for lunch.
Free Lunch - Day 1!
Yes, I probably have bought her lunch in the past and yes, I will probably be expected to do something nice for her sometime in the future, and there is always the possibility that that lunch will put her over the financial edge and she will end up having to move in with me to save money, but for today, my lunch was free.
Thank you dear daughter.
My visiting teaching companion and I have been helping one of our visiting teachees sort and pack and organize her belongings as she prepares to move to Missouri. This project has been going on for a l-o-n-g time. We are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel or more accurately the taillights on the 3rd moving van heading for the new home and so yesterday we celebrated and the recipient of our help treated us to lunch. We went to a restaurant called Iguana Macks in Mesa. It calls itself a roadhouse and had some very eclectic food and unique decor. They are known for their ciabbata bread and dipping sauce and I will agree that it was very tasty, as was my soup and salad lunch special. At the end of lunch the bill passed right over me.
Free Lunch - Day 2!
OK, I do realize that I definitely invested more time and energy in this endeavor than what the lunch probably cost, but the lunch was a bonus and somewhat unexpected, and therefore I am calling it free.
Thank you dear Relief Society sister.
Today brought my visiting teaching companion and I together once again armed with packing tape and a sharpie marker. We were surprised when we arrived at the almost empty home to discover that we were invited to be guests at the next door neighbor's house for lunch. The neighbors are a very hospitable older couple who are also members of the church. The wife is Hawaiian and Japanese and grew up in Hawaii and she and her husband spend at least a few months every year in Hawaii where they own a home, store and restaurant which they lease to a cousin there. They are a delightful couple with lots of interesting stories that they enjoy sharing. We were served Teriaki pork sandwiches and fried rice and it was delicious. I don't really know this couple very well, since health problems and travel have kept them from attending church on a regular basis since our wards were combined, but I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with them and hearing about all the adventures they have had during their lives.
Free Lunch - Day 3!
I do honestly believe that this could truly be considered a free lunch. I didn't do anything to deserve this and I don't think there is anything expected from me in return. We were told that we were eating leftovers that would otherwise have gone to waste. They can feed me their leftovers anytime.
Thank you dear neighbors.
Today I am thankful for
nice people.
an upbeat phone call from my mom.
the freedom to sit and listen to stories if I want to.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Visiting Teaching + Food = Feelings of Fullness
I think I have one of the greatest visiting teaching companions in the church. She makes me laugh, gives me perspective, worries about the sisters we visit and prays for them, has great insight, is one of the most compassionate people I know, always chooses to drive, buys me a diet Pepsi to end our time together, and is always thinking of creative ways to get our visiting teaching done. I love her Lots!
One of the sisters that we visit isn't always receptive to us coming to her home. If we do get in for a chat she becomes the queen of changing the subject. She is extremely knowledgeable and a bigger talker than I am, if you can believe that, and we always have interesting conversations, just usually not about the lesson topic. I have grown to love this sister as we have visited her and I really want her to have a more positive opinion about the gospel and its teachings. She was offended a couple of years ago and her feelings toward the individuals involved seem to negatively color all of her ideas about the church.
We have found that an invitation to meet for lunch is the best way for us to get together and my companion has set up a standing date with her the 3rd Friday of the month at Sweet Tomatoes. We try up until then to schedule an in home visit, but if we can't succeed we always have our lunch appointment as a back up. My companion also spends Friday afternoons with another sister in the ward who has some health problems and cannot stay home alone. She is part of our 3rd Friday outing and today one of her visiting teachers (who also happens to be my visiting teacher) joined us as well, so we had a really fun, visiting teaching group and discussion.
We were able to share insights and ideas on how knowing that we are daughters of loving heavenly parents helps us in our daily lives. I really needed to be reminded of the truths taught in this message. Things like:
I received my first lessons in the world of spirits from my Heavenly Parents.
Wow, I wish I could remember my Heavenly Father and Mother instructing me and preparing me for my earthly school. What an awe inspiring thought!
"...you need to drink in deeply the gospel truths about the eternal nature of your individual identity and the uniqueness of your personality. You need, more and more, to feel the perfect love which our Father in Heaven has for you and to sense the value he places upon you as an individual."
It is amazing to me how individually and personally my Heavenly Father knows me. My needs, my strengths, my weaknesses, my unique personality. I feel his love and recognize his hand in my life in so many ways. I am so grateful for the gospel truths that I have been taught throughout my life and for the personal testimony of them that has come as I have grown and matured and been blessed with opportunities that have humbled me and helped me to look deeper for the Tender Mercies that are evidence of God's knowledge of and love for me.
One last thought that struck me from this message as I have been pondering the Olympics this week and so many individuals quest for the Gold.
You are a treasured child of the promise. If you will keep the Lord's statutes and commandments and hearken to His voice He has promised that he will make you high above the nations in name and honor and praise.
We can all be winners!
Today I am thankful for
lastings friendships that I have built through Relief Society.
A weekend to look forward to.
Inspired leaders who write visiting teachings messages to teach and uplift me.
My birthmonth present for today was an evening alone with my husband without any kids.
One of the sisters that we visit isn't always receptive to us coming to her home. If we do get in for a chat she becomes the queen of changing the subject. She is extremely knowledgeable and a bigger talker than I am, if you can believe that, and we always have interesting conversations, just usually not about the lesson topic. I have grown to love this sister as we have visited her and I really want her to have a more positive opinion about the gospel and its teachings. She was offended a couple of years ago and her feelings toward the individuals involved seem to negatively color all of her ideas about the church.
We have found that an invitation to meet for lunch is the best way for us to get together and my companion has set up a standing date with her the 3rd Friday of the month at Sweet Tomatoes. We try up until then to schedule an in home visit, but if we can't succeed we always have our lunch appointment as a back up. My companion also spends Friday afternoons with another sister in the ward who has some health problems and cannot stay home alone. She is part of our 3rd Friday outing and today one of her visiting teachers (who also happens to be my visiting teacher) joined us as well, so we had a really fun, visiting teaching group and discussion.
We were able to share insights and ideas on how knowing that we are daughters of loving heavenly parents helps us in our daily lives. I really needed to be reminded of the truths taught in this message. Things like:
I received my first lessons in the world of spirits from my Heavenly Parents.
Wow, I wish I could remember my Heavenly Father and Mother instructing me and preparing me for my earthly school. What an awe inspiring thought!
"...you need to drink in deeply the gospel truths about the eternal nature of your individual identity and the uniqueness of your personality. You need, more and more, to feel the perfect love which our Father in Heaven has for you and to sense the value he places upon you as an individual."
It is amazing to me how individually and personally my Heavenly Father knows me. My needs, my strengths, my weaknesses, my unique personality. I feel his love and recognize his hand in my life in so many ways. I am so grateful for the gospel truths that I have been taught throughout my life and for the personal testimony of them that has come as I have grown and matured and been blessed with opportunities that have humbled me and helped me to look deeper for the Tender Mercies that are evidence of God's knowledge of and love for me.
One last thought that struck me from this message as I have been pondering the Olympics this week and so many individuals quest for the Gold.
You are a treasured child of the promise. If you will keep the Lord's statutes and commandments and hearken to His voice He has promised that he will make you high above the nations in name and honor and praise.
We can all be winners!
Today I am thankful for
lastings friendships that I have built through Relief Society.
A weekend to look forward to.
Inspired leaders who write visiting teachings messages to teach and uplift me.
My birthmonth present for today was an evening alone with my husband without any kids.
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