Since girl's camp, I've been pondering a message that I heard at our Sunday meeting there that really has stayed with me. Scott Smith talked about asking someone to do a certain difficult job for the church. The man responded that of course he would do it because he is a consecrated servant and will do whatever he is asked to do. That really touched me because I want to be able to say that I, too, am a consecrated servant and that the Lord can always count on me to do what I am asked to further his work here on the earth.
I have made certain promises to the Lord, and I try to keep them and I try to serve when I am asked to do so. But, here is the rub. I am really terrible about getting my visiting teaching done. How consecrated can I be if I don't even do that small task the way I should. I tell myself that I will do better, but I let other things get in the way. And, I mean other things that are not even important. I have four days left this month, so I will let you know if I can get it done. I have been given a new member as a companion, so I need to be a good example to her. I have been the RS president twice. I know how important it is to be a good visiting teacher. I really need to overcome this problem. I have no excuse for this shortcoming and it is so dumb to let this keep me from being the kind of servant that I should be.
On a lighter note, yesterday was Glen sister Ellen's 50th birthday party. It was a fun time. Ellen and Mallory flew over from Texas. I will add pix later. Mallory is a senior this year and hopes to go to BYU next year. So, Alicia, maybe you can live together! Anyway, you can spend time together atleast! She is a great girl. Just think, you can learn to say y'all correctly!
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Our Throw Away Society
How can people get ahead financially when nothing lasts for any decent length of time. Just this last week I had to purchase a new microwave oven. I hadn't had the last one more than a few year. The one I had before that lasted about 15 years I think. It seems that we will need to replace this computer before too long. As a matter of fact, it seems that everything runs on some sort of computerized system anymore, and nothing lasts as long as things used to last. Think of cars, TVs, telephones that we have to replace every two years. I think manufacturers do this on purpose. Remember the old adage, Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do or do without? Well, I try to live by that mantra, but it becomes more and more difficult. How did I ever survive without a micro wave anyway?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Joseph M. Done
This morning around 6:00 AM, my brother-in-law, Joe, died. For 20 years he had fought a hard fight against a disease that ravaged his body until it finally took his life. It began as a little tick in his head after the accident that took his beloved daughter Donna Lynne's life. It slowly took away his ability to walk and stand and talk. He sat could no longer eat or do anything that he wanted to do. Yet, he still managed to endear people to him with his intellect and wit.
One of the things that Joe could still do until recently was type on the computer. He did a lot of genealogy work on my mother's side of the family. And, he wrote on his blog. One day, after I had started blogging, he wrote on my comments area. I was so excited to find that he had a blog, too. Then, he had some trouble with the blog, but it was exciting for me to have someone else out there to read my blog and someone who always wrote interesting things on his for me to comment on. He never wrote silly, trivial thoughts, but always deep, thought provoking ideas that gave me pause to consider.
Joe and my sister Sandi were married back in the 60's, when I was a little girl. He has been a part of our family for so long that it is hard for me to remember when he wasn't there. After they were married, my brother Fred and my younger sister Audree would get to go and visit for a week or two during the summer months. We would stay with Sandi and Joe and also with Donna (another sister) and after she was married, her husband Steve. We used to tease Joe about ankles because they grossed him out. He love the outdoors and we could always plan on having a nice outdoor picnic somewhere while we were there. Whenever Sandi and Joe were coming to visit, my mom would make corned beef and cabbage for him and also tacos. For a skinny guy, Joe could really pack away my mom's tacos.
Joe's favorite book was Goethe's Faust. He always carried a copy with him. I studied it for one semester at BYU, so we had some good discussions about it. Mostly I just listened to him because there was no way my mind was ever going to keep up with his, and I learned so much from him. We discussed many other works of literature as well.
The doctors never could decide if Joe had ALS or MS or something else. He lived longer than anyone else ever has with either one of those diseases. I think his love and worry for his family is what kept him here for so long. I wonder if they realize the depth of that love and worry and the depth of his faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ. His love for them has always been so unconditional. It makes me weep when I think of the pain and struggle he has gone through for so long and how much I will miss those little emails and blogs. It gives me peace to know that now he is with his dad who died when he was two, his step dad who he knew all of his life, and mostly with his Donna Lynne who he has missed all of these years. I am happy for him because he deserves peace and comfort at last. I love you Joe. I will see you again.
One of the things that Joe could still do until recently was type on the computer. He did a lot of genealogy work on my mother's side of the family. And, he wrote on his blog. One day, after I had started blogging, he wrote on my comments area. I was so excited to find that he had a blog, too. Then, he had some trouble with the blog, but it was exciting for me to have someone else out there to read my blog and someone who always wrote interesting things on his for me to comment on. He never wrote silly, trivial thoughts, but always deep, thought provoking ideas that gave me pause to consider.
Joe and my sister Sandi were married back in the 60's, when I was a little girl. He has been a part of our family for so long that it is hard for me to remember when he wasn't there. After they were married, my brother Fred and my younger sister Audree would get to go and visit for a week or two during the summer months. We would stay with Sandi and Joe and also with Donna (another sister) and after she was married, her husband Steve. We used to tease Joe about ankles because they grossed him out. He love the outdoors and we could always plan on having a nice outdoor picnic somewhere while we were there. Whenever Sandi and Joe were coming to visit, my mom would make corned beef and cabbage for him and also tacos. For a skinny guy, Joe could really pack away my mom's tacos.
Joe's favorite book was Goethe's Faust. He always carried a copy with him. I studied it for one semester at BYU, so we had some good discussions about it. Mostly I just listened to him because there was no way my mind was ever going to keep up with his, and I learned so much from him. We discussed many other works of literature as well.
The doctors never could decide if Joe had ALS or MS or something else. He lived longer than anyone else ever has with either one of those diseases. I think his love and worry for his family is what kept him here for so long. I wonder if they realize the depth of that love and worry and the depth of his faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ. His love for them has always been so unconditional. It makes me weep when I think of the pain and struggle he has gone through for so long and how much I will miss those little emails and blogs. It gives me peace to know that now he is with his dad who died when he was two, his step dad who he knew all of his life, and mostly with his Donna Lynne who he has missed all of these years. I am happy for him because he deserves peace and comfort at last. I love you Joe. I will see you again.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Car Trouble
Before I left for camp, I took my Mariner for its regular service appt. I learned that my back tires are wearing funny so I need to get that fixed. So, because of that I took the Durango up to girl's camp. It did fine and I was able to fit a bunch of stuff in it. But, on the way home, it overheated. I had checked the coolant before leaving camp and apparently had not put the cap on tightly. So, to make a long story short, it took all day to get it home and inspite of new hosed, themastat and fan, it still is over heating.
Oh, but dear reader, don't stop there. Tuesday morning, the construction workers on our street, pulling a trailor, sideswiped Glen's F350 with the camper, taking out the windows, mirror and part of the camper. Of course, the insurance company wants to total it and give us some piddly amount that will make it impossible for us to replace what has been an excellent truck. Insurance companies have such a racket going! Now, we will have to buy a new vehicle and have a payment which we did not have before. How is that fair? I hate car trouble!
Oh, but dear reader, don't stop there. Tuesday morning, the construction workers on our street, pulling a trailor, sideswiped Glen's F350 with the camper, taking out the windows, mirror and part of the camper. Of course, the insurance company wants to total it and give us some piddly amount that will make it impossible for us to replace what has been an excellent truck. Insurance companies have such a racket going! Now, we will have to buy a new vehicle and have a payment which we did not have before. How is that fair? I hate car trouble!
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