Treasure Valley Notes...

Hello once again... here is a "blog note" I made on Thursday, June 25th, 2009, and am sharing now...

As I finished my conference talk this morning, Elder Boyd K. Packer’s “Counsel to Young Men” - given, of course, during the priesthood session which I was not there for, I found myself amazed again at how very much I learn and experience when reading these talks. New insight into old things, laughter (as when he referred to a grandson as “the stray,” ... just so very much, and I thank the Lord for being able to do this daily at this time in my life. I know that lives and schedules are busy, but hope and pray that each of my children, their spouses, and even my grandchildren may come to have this experience:)!

On to today....Sunday, June 28th, 2009

I want to post a blog tonight... so here goes my supreme effort:) Life is busier than I ever thought it could be and I seem to move more slowly with every passing day. I hope it is just an illusion, but fear it is probably more reality than not.

I decided I needed to be sure to write in my journal, and then take from my journal what I wanted to share with all my family...as a result, I DID do a little writing in my journal over the past couple of weeks, but no blogs - which is why I am trying so hard to do it tonight:)

Looking back...on Thursday, June 18th I wrote: This morning I am filled with great appreciation for the freedom my “retirement” currently offers me...time for extended morning prayer & scripture study, music practice, exercise, planning my own schedule...it is a great blessing in my life, as is the beauty around me, the coolness of the air, the sounds of hundreds of birds in the trees around us. . . it is all incredibly beautiful.

More currently...I have been very involved with (1) trying to figure out T-shirts for the reunion - they are ordered and paid for now! , (2) trying to do and get all that is necessary for our YW Challenge, (3) my friend, Dean Burks, whom I have been able to see and visit now, but her husband does not want anyone else to know where she is or what is going on. It is very hard for me; hard to see her so incapacitated, hard to be unable to answer questions from others, and probably hard also to make the time for the visits - but I think they are very important so I continue to try to get there. Being able to visit is an answer to prayer; her husband also allowed the Bishop to come and give her a blessing - another answer to prayer for me. I continue to pray for a miracle. (4) trying to keep up the the YSA things Dad & I are supposed to be doing - right now there is a raft trip scheduled for July 11th on the Rogue River and we have worked hard to get the word out and get them signed up. Looks like we have 16 for sure at the moment; I suggested to Dad that Mary (& Michael?) might enjoy going - but since we are supposed to leave that day for Utah, he wasn’t very impressed with the idea:( (5) we have been trying to finish getting the storeroom emptied of Grandpa’s stuff. Have made some progress at home in putting things away and giving things away... but it honestly feels almost hopeless to me. This house is filled with too much stuff; I find myself wanting a very small space to take care of and to keep up with... doesn’t sound like where I am does it? (Is this “the grass is always greener” syndrome?)

I’m hoping Christi finds time to post a blog; sounded like the kids did GREAT at the State Fair. Carrying on the Oliphant tradition, in the Bullinger name now:)

Two weeks from today we should be in UTAH. I would sure feel a lot better about this reunion thing if everyone had at least e-mailed me their food plans and what the needs are for cooking utensils, etc. so that we could at least coordinate - without people bringing duplicate things. However - since I am not personally assigned to a meal (yet - Charlotte and Seth does it look like you are going to be able to come?) I guess I just should quit worrying about it and trust in your wonderful abilities to carry it all out on your own:)! (I really don’t want to have to spend any of our “together” time going to grocery stores or restaurants... I am very jealous of our time together since it is so very short:)

Guess that is all for now... perhaps tomorrow I will share some of what transpired today that I thought was meaningful; right now I am quite tired. We are looking forward to having Mary here next week.... hope she spends at least SOME of her time with US:)!

Love to all, Mom O.

P.S. Sara... there is no Chocolate Truffle Cake in my BH&G cookbook; how about making one and bringing it to the reunion - along with copies of the recipe???