Last Sunday I did genealogy for 5.5 hours. I forgot to Skype the grandkids. Crazy. But I found this woman: Barbara Bolt, who lives in Oregon and she has done research on the Learned line. She had photos of my Great Grandfather and his wife Nancy. She sent me 45 pages of genealogy and that was so worth the cost of ancestry.com. WOW.
Almost a month ago...it seems incredible....Julie left for Georgia. She is living in Marietta. It must be a bad area, because she cannot walk by herself or take the bus anywhere. She has no money, no car, and no job. Goodness, I worry about this girl. Randy brought home some pomegranates and I felt all mushy inside...thinking about how much she loves them....and then Thanksgiving came....and we had sweet potato pie---her favorite----and I felt all mushy again. AURGH.
On a good note...Graydon is here and funny as ever. He signed up with Netflix which he gets through his X-Box. Don't ask me to explain the technology, but it works great. He is really a "movie" kind of guy so that works for him. Randy and I are enjoying watching Star Trek--The Next Generation and we are in season 3. Just 1 episode a night. It is so clean!!!! So we are enjoying Graydon's subscription. Graydon is a dear -- I love that he 'shares' which is a bit unusual for a guy---but he is making plans for the future and Randy and I are excited for him. He is pretty sensible most of the time. I have to admit I definitely could not see the appeal in jumping into the Logan Canal after dusk for a 3-second screaming dip. BRRRRRR.
Graydon and I have done a lot of Christmas shopping...in fact we are almost done. That is a great feeling. I hate the frazzles of trying to figure out where, when and how much....mostly I shop online now, because I hate the crush of people and I get headaches from all the smells. I did go to Shopko last night and all their ornaments were 1/2 off. I bought 7 ornaments with a musical theme to give to my piano students and special people. The music notation behind the 16th note is "Winter Wonderland."
Randy and I read our scriptures together after dinner and then have couples prayer. That way I can stay up late practicing/reading/studying/ and he can go to bed....We read a scripture in Jacob 4 that really made me stop and think:
14 But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.
I am like this I think: stiffnecked and sometimes the plain thing is in front of me, but I am more interested in something subtle, what I really need is to know the Savior and let the Atonement work in me. But this blindness - I can see how easily it could come about.
One thing that is difficult for me, especially at this time of year (a definite dichotomy when one KNOWS the reason for the season!!!!) is that I wish we were better off financially. I would love to have bills paid and be able to give more! Not just to my kids, definitely to Randy, but more to the community! And we have such a hard time making ends meet. Then I read/see all that people seem to have and their "stuff" which really I am not a "stuff" person, but want to be able to give more....maybe?....anyway this envy creeps up and just about chokes me. I have to pull out my scriptures and get myself back on the line. Sometimes I resent Randy for not providing better...and then I second-guess that maybe I didn't manage the money we do get very well...and then I feel pressured to GET A JOB....and then the circle continues. Bitterness does not make for a very loving home.
There is this great little video on the Mormon Channel....I think Elder Nelson knew I needed that message and posted this just for me!
http://lds.org/pages/mens-hearts-shall-fail-them?lang=eng
I don't think my faith has failed...I am not afraid of death. Sometimes the unknown makes me tremble, makes me troubled, makes me fall to my knees. But I loved the message because it reminds that with the Savior all things are possible and so I can go on. (I'm a drama queen today!)
Well here it is 10:00 a.m. I'm playing a solo in Sacrament Meeting and it is the last class of my Family History class for 2011. I hope the members have the spirit of Elijah and are enjoying doing the research.
Our friends Connie and Ralph Mudd are having an open house in Hooper next Saturday. We haven't seen them for a few years and they will be in town before they go to the MTC. We are so looking forward to seeing them. They friended us way back when we lived in the Jacksonville Ward 1982-1986, and they are so wonderful.
I am so burned out regarding my class. I still have 20 reports to complete before I can retake the exam. I have 13 days left or I have to purchase ANOTHER extension. I feel stupid. Sometimes I am so tired of it - I honestly don't care if the patient lives. However, on the good days...it IS so interesting and I think I will like it for a job.
Time is flying by and I need to warm up and review my lesson plan. So Heigh Ho Heigh Ho-- it's off to serve I go!
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