The Best Week

This really has been the very best of weeks.  Last Wed. Susan and Mike arrived from California.  They stayed with us until yesterday.  Thursday, Paul arrived in the early afternoon and Scott and Cara later in the afternoon.  We visited for a bit and then went into town for dinner.  We went to The Branding Iron.  Food was good, service so-so but the bill was a bit much.  Even though we had requested separate checks, they added the 20% service charge to each of them for parties of 6 or more (we were 7).  Won't be going there again with a group unless we do one check.

Friday was the the day.  Susan and I left first for the Monticello Temple as we had to be there by 10:30.  The others met us there for the 12:00 (noon) session.  Oh what a glorious experience.  Many of the temple workers (and they are there a lot) even commented on how strong the spirit was during our session.  It really was a special time.  Scott took a lot of pics outside and has them posted on facebook.  I'll have to have him send me copies.

Afterwards, since we were all a bit hungry, we went over to Taco Time to eat a little.  We again met up with several from my branch that also had the same idea.

Later that evening, Rick and I took all my siblings and spouses to dinner (Fiesta Mexicana) as a thank you for being there for me.  We had so much fun.  It was great being with so many.  We really missed having Becky and Don and Janna with us.  That evening, we just sat around and visited.

Saturday morning I made macadamia pancakes with coconut syrup (also made plan pancakes) then we visited more and played Farkle.  More laughter and great times.  Paul left before lunch (we had pulled pork sandwiches and tater tots) and Scott and Cara shortly after lunch.  Susan and Mike spent a good part of the day working on talks for Sunday.  My branch president asked them to speak after finding out that the scheduled speakers were suddenly not going to be able to make it.  It's a little hard to say no in the temple.  He also asked me to bear my testimony.  This really didn't come as a surprise to me but the following sunday would be fast and testimony sunday so looks like I'll be doing it two weeks in a row.

Sunday was special.  Relief Society was really good.  Susan even comments to the sisters how the spirit was really strong in our branch.,  Mike and Susan also agreed with me on what a great Sunday School teacher we have.  He brings insights to the lesson that I haven't thought of .  And then of course Sacrament Meeting was excellent.  We sang two of my favorite hymns, "I Stand All Amazed" and "I Need Thee Every Hour".  I was able to get through my testimony with minimal tears but teared up all through Susan and Mike's talks.  Susan talked on the temple and Mike on prayer.  It was really moving.

Then on Monday, we finally began Susan and Mike's vacation.  Rick also took Monday thru Wed. off work so we could show them around.  They had never been to anything around here.  Monday we took them to Dead Horse Point and to the Island in the Sky part of Canyonlands.  Tuesday, we did Arches and Wednesday we went to Monument Valley.  We had so much fun together. 

Thursday they got up early to start their drive home.  They should be home early this afternoon.  I miss them already.  Susan brought be a bunch of books (about 35) from authors we both enjoy.  She thought she might go back with a couple I have they she hadn't read but ended up with about 33!  So much for having more room in trunk!

This really has been a great week.  I so appreciated my family being here for me as I went through the temple.  I also want all my family and friends to know how much I love and appreciate their love and support through all the years of my inactivity in the Church.  It may have taken me a long time, but your prayers have been answered.

Another Great Weekend

Had another great weekend.  Paul arrived Sat. about 5:30 with 2 of his daughters.  Cristina is on her way to BYU and Liza just came to visit.  Had a great time.  Went into Moab for dinner.  The girls decided pizza sounded good to them so went to Pizza Hut.  Afterwards we drove into Arches.  Liza had never been before so was fun showing a bit of it to her.  Had a pretty good sunset with the clouds and she took several pictures.  When it got too dark for pics or to really see much, we came home and visited until we all went to bed.

Sunday, Paul, Liza, Christina and I went to church.  Rick decided to clean the garage floor since my car would be gone and all his toys are out being fixed.  Church was great.  Liza comment that it wasn't so much like going to church as going to see family.  What a great description on our little branch.  We are like family.  Afterwards we came home, changed our clothes and ate taco salads.  I had prepared the meat on Sat. so just had to warm it up and put stuff out for everyone to make their own.  I had also made brownies Sat. so had them for dessert.  It was a really good meal.

After lunch, Paul and the girls left for Scott's place.  Cristina has to be at the "Y" Monday morning and Liza is going to visit friends in the SLC area.  Paul will be back on Thurs. along with Scott and Cara.  Susan and Mike should be here Wed.  They are all coming to go to the temple with me on Fri.  They even announced my going on Fri. at church and it looks like there will be about 15 of us.

Am really looking forward to the family visit.  Especially since Susan and Mike will be here for several days.  Rick is taking Mon-Wed off next week so we can go on day trips with them to show them the area.

It's been awhile since I updated and just got back from a few days with Scott and Cara, so here goes.

I made the trip up to get my temple clothes, etc.  It was a most successful trip.  I am all set now for next Fri.  Plus, we went to Cara's great used books store and Seagull Book.  I came home with a lot a great books.  Can hardly wait to start reading them all.

Went to church with them and it was a most interesting experience.  Scott had told me this was the noisiest ward he had ever been to, and he was right.  Even though we sat about 5 rows from the front of the chapel, we could still hardly hear the speakers.  I really was a little shocked that some of these people either don't take their noisy children out or train them to be quiet and respectful.  It really made me appreciate our little branch here.  Even when we have had visitors with small children, they kept them under control.

But, had a terrific visit with Scott and family.  They even taught me how to play Farkle!  What a fun time we had.  Scott and I had started a game and Allison joined in late.  She ended up winning!  But what fun we had.

Now, I must get ready for all my company.  Paul will be here Sat. evening with Christina and Lizza.  Christina is going to BYU and Lizza just came to visit.  They will leave shortly after my church on Sunday to go to Scott's.  Then Tues or Wed Susan and Mike will be here for a week and Paul, Scott and Cara will be here Thurs.  Am really looking forward to this mini family reunion.

My back is doing better all the time.  I only use the cane when I get really tired or know I have to go up a bunch of stairs.  Going down is fine but coming up is a bit of a challenge.  Even my limp when I don't use the cane is decreasing.  So glad to see progress. 

Well, I best sign off for now.  Need to start getting my house cleaned up a bit for all this company.

Sunday - My favorite Day of the Week

Yes, Sunday has truly become my favorite day of the week and today was especially good.  It started with me giving the lesson in Relief Society.  What did I teach, you may ask?  I started with the scripture Mark 12:30-31.  Went on to a scripture from the Book of Mormon and the D&C all saying basically the say thing.  I was emphasizing the love thy neighbor as thyself portion.  My lesson dwelt on the fact that we can love no one, unless we love ourselves.  This was my first time teaching in about 40 years, so needless to say, I was a bit nervous.  But everyone said I did really well and they loved it.

Next came Sunday School.  We have the best teacher ever!  This is one of the things I really love about Sundays is going to his class.  We are discussing the New Testament and I am learning so much.  I will really miss it next week when at Scott's but am sure they have a terrific teacher also.

Lastly, Sacrament Meeting.  Today being the first Sunday of the month, it was Fast and Testimony Meeting.  Now, you have to realize I live in Castle Valley, Utah.  We are a very small branch and when I say small, I mean it.  There were 12 people at Sacrament Meeting.  And one was our High Council rep. from Moab.  Well, this certainly gives everyone the opportunity to bear their testimony.  All but one did, and his is a physically and mentally challenged your man, the son of one of the sweetest couples in our branch.  I have discovered I am actually one of the youngest members, and I'm 60!  So you can see, we have a very special branch and the spirit is really felt by everyone that comes.

My day didn't end there.  Immediately after my last meeting, I drove into Moab to see our Stake President for an interview and to get me temple recommend signed.  Yes, I got it.  I am so excited.  Plan on going to the Monticello Temple on Fri. Aug 26th.  Most if not all my siblings and some of their spouses will be going with me and this will make it even more special.  I finally got back home about 3 this afternoon.

Have been reading in the current issue of "The Ensign" this afternoon. 

The sun is shining; it may be hot outside; but this has been just about the most perfect day.  I need to get back to my reading, I'm not half done with the magazine yet, so will sign off for now.

Love to all my family and friends that read this.

Comments???

My brother wrote me an email and said he had been unable to leave a comment on my blog.  I did some checking and realized I hadn't set it up correctly.  Now, you will be able to leave a comment if you so desire.  Just check the "Name" box and write your name as you want me to see it.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Was hoping today to get to see me cousin, Lisa, today as she is in town from Elko but things just didn't work out.  Hopefully next time we will be able to get together.  It has been so fun reconnecting with family I haven't seen in years.

Several weeks ago, Rick bought us a new file cabinet for our retreat/office.  Today we spent a good part of the day finally getting it put into the room and sorting the things from our old one to put into it.  We have now decided we need to get a second one.  These new ones are so much bigger and nicer than the old one we have been using for years.  I can put hanging folders in them so it is much easier to find things.  When we get the second one, the old one will go out to the garage for him to put stuff in.

Needless to say, this project tired me out.  But the room looks so much better.  We got Rick's desk cleaned off as well.  Moved a bookcase to a different wall (which meant unloading it and then reloading it).  Now I have one room ready for when my family comes to visit in a couple of weeks.  Going to try to "spring" clean one room each day this next week (except Sunday).  Some rooms are so bad so it won't take long and can do a couple that evening.

My Personal Blog

I tried to post to Rick and my blog "Wolcott Wandering" and blogger wouldn't let me so I decided to create my own space. I have titled my blog "My Unchained Melody" for two reasons. First, the song is my all time favorite, especially by the Righteous Brothers and second, this will be a disjointed blog. Just my thoughts as they come to me. All different subjects will be posted and this will only be viewed by some.

I recently joined a group on facebook after seeing one of my friends post on it. The group is called "You know you grew up in Merced..." Now I only lived there 4 years from my sophomore year of high school thru my freshman year of college but I certainly feel those were more most growing up years. Reading the posts there, and it is definitely multi-generational, has made me really think back on those years. I have found several friends from high school to add to my facebook friends and some of the posts really bring back memories.

Memories can be good and bad. But I have noticed mostly people are remembering the good things. And I think that is how memories should be. Why dwell on the bad.

Here on my blog, I will try to keep more current on what I am doing. Especially after I got onto facebook, we really let our other blog slide, noticed several others that I read have done the same thing. But here, I can write things I wouldn't put on facebook for everyone to see. This will be a little more personal.

And one of the first things to update people with, in case I haven't told you before, I became active in my church again almost a year ago. I started working on going to the temple and had it planned to do in May. We know how Lucifer likes to mess things up and he did a great job with me by screwing up my back and I had to have surgery the day after Easter. I didn't fall or have any kind of accident but I suddenly had a disk out of alignment. Since this was the third time, the surgeon put plates and screws in. Recovery is long but mostly behind me know. I am still on restrictions of no bending, no twisting and a 10 lb. weight limit. This will last until my next appt. on Oct 13th when hopefully I will be released with no restrictions. Standing and sitting in a hard chair are still bothersome but getting better. I walked around between each meeting at Church so that I can make it thru all of them. I have been up in as a counselor in our Relief Society and this is a whole new experience for me.

This Sunday, I have an interview with my Stake President for my temple recommend and hope to be going on Fri. Aug 26th. I am excited and nervous as I am usually when I do something I have never done before. Most, if not all, of my siblings want/plan on being here for me and I can't tell them how glad I am that they have supported me through all my years of inactivity.

I hope to get this blog more refined with things as the time goes by. As I recall, loading pictures was a pain because of the internet connection we have here out in the valley, but will do my best. For now, will sign off.