Quote for this blog: From Jeffrey R. Holland... “I believe we have all been created for greater things than we can comprehend. The times call for great things, but great things in the noblest and most redemptive sense are predicated upon tolerance, love, respect, understanding, dignity, prayer, God.”
Upcoming Birthdays in February:
Remembering J.R. Oliphant III with love on the 11th.
Zoe Marilyn Burgis (Robin’s little girl) is 7 on Feb. 11
Michael James Bullinger is 17 on February 18 (Can that really be?)
Christine Regina Oliphant is one year older on February 21
Taylor Nicole Oliphant is 12 on February 21 - and officially enters Young Women!
I am writing this while driving back to Eugene after spending the weekend in Roseburg. Actually we left the Mission Office Friday, drove to Roseburg, picked up some papers from Roland Johnson and then went to dinner at Gilbertos. We were supposed to meet the Beckenhauers there for dinner, but Valerie called, sounding terrible, to tell me she’d been sick, but was “better” - but could not do dinner and didn’t want to make us sick. So we just had a quiet dinner to ourselves:). Then we went to Sherm’s to get some milk, bananas and a few other things and went home, put things away and pretty much went to bed. We got up early Saturday to go to the temple in Medford; afterwards we were supposed to meet a realtor at the house who is going to give us a “broker’s pricing opinion” - at least I think that is what it is called. My thought was that we would just meet with him for 15 to 20 minutes to give him some background and then he would come later at his convenience and do all the looking around. Instead, he and Dad got to talking and I think he ended up seeing pretty much everything. Two hours later I managed to break them apart:) and we tried to get Zaire to a vet just to get checked. We failed; just missed their closing, but the Wimbers are going to keep an eye on her and take her later possibly. She actually seemed to be doing pretty well to us - was active and alert and eating well - so perhaps their worries are for naught. Anyway, we will see.
We puttered around a little and then met Linda and Jill Garvin at Shari’s for dinner. Linda seems to be doing better, taking more control over her life and Jill is doing a good job of getting involved with other people and other things. She made a trip over Christmas to visit her kids in a couple of different places and had a fun story about the airport somewhere. At the security part there was a sign that said, “If you are 5 or over you do not have to remove your coat and shoes.” That made her happy, so she did not remove them. Then, as she was going through a security officer said, you need to take off your coat and shoes. She told him no, the sign said she didn’t have to. He didn’t believe her age (I think she is 78) and so asked for ID. She thought that was the funniest thing - to get carded at the airport:)!
After eating at Shari’s we said our goodbyes and then made a quick stop at Ross’s and one to get gas. Home again, we just enjoyed doing nothing more than scriptures and prayers and then relaxing. Actually, I was pretty tired and climbed into bed; Dad did too, but had picked up A Child’s History of the World and started reading it. He is enjoying it and brought it back to Eugene to finish. We slept well and got up quite late this morning...which did not matter because church (in Roseburg) is now at 12. We ended up leaving a little early and going to visit Judy Jacobson for a bit before church; she had a fall about a week ago and has strict instructions to call for help before doing anything now - which she really doesn’t like to do, but is grudgingly obeying. At least the fall was in her apartment and not a bad one. I told her we would spend more time together next time we visited.
During and after church we enjoyed visiting with people; it is such a wonderful ward and I do really miss our friends there. What a good place it was to raise our family:)!
Dad worked on a few things when we got back to the house and then we ate a few leftovers, gathered up our stuff and started out on the trip back to Eugene. It is very dark and rainy out but we are almost there now. I will have to look at my notes for the week and add them in once I am in a room with light:).
Oh yes...Monday I visited with the therapist at Hangar orthotics; at the end of it all, he kept the Walk Aide and I left. He was to get in touch with an expert in California who has done a lot of work with these instruments. That person has told him in the past that he would come down to give him help whenever his might need it. The hope is that the expert can figure out a way to get the Walk Aide to work properly for me. From our time together on Monday it was obvious that with the little device used to pinpoint where the nerves are that move the foot in the way that is needed, we have no problem. But, when we try to achieve the same effect with the electrodes on the cuff that goes around the leg, it just does not work. So - am waiting to hear what the date will be to meet with the expert. Also at our session together, I tried on an AFL - made of a very lightweight material - which helped me to walk better immediately. So my guy is also ordering one of those in my size to try next time we get together.
Also on Monday were mission transfers...I think 86 of them, or something like that. Tuesday was departure day for 8 missionaries; Wednesday was arrival day for 19 - 12 of which were sister missionaries. Once again I loved the time at the mission home and hearing the testimonies and feeling the spirit there; it is an incredible experience - and I feel so blessed to be allowed to feel it. In February we will say goodbye to 8 and welcome 31, including another senior couple. So, our numbers are increasing rapidly.
Thursday and Friday were work days, trying to catch up with all the changes, and then we headed to Roseburg.
A New Week.... (since I missed posting a blog last week)
Monday was surgery day for Ammon once again; he and Christi had been able to visit a little with Mary and Sara over the weekend, so that was nice...except for Christi’s disastrous experiences as she headed back to Salt Lake City from Sara’s. Some big snowstorm came in about halfway back, if I understand it correctly, and the trip took someothing like 4 hours. They stopped at a restuarant to get a little food because they had missed dinner at the McDonald house and then got stuck - and had to have help from all the people in the restaurant (4 or 5 I think) in order to just get out of the parking lot and on their way to the McDonald House. Fortunately they made it; Ammon’s surgery went really well according to the doctors and they thought they would be heading homeward in a day or two. Then Ammon began running a high fever (104°) which ended up putting him back in the hospital and gave Christine a night of little sleep. Luckily all the testing ended up negative on the serious problems they were considering, and finally, on Friday, they were able to make it back to Wyoming.
On Tuesday Mary called, somewhat in shock over having received a job offer from the owner of Sub Zero to become the Operations Manager for the company at a salary of $3500 per month. Prior to that offer the plan was to be out of her apartment by the 10th (this coming weekend) and return to Oregon, joining with Michael who came a month or so ago and is working in Beaverton. Ultimately, she has decided to accept the offer, with Michael’s blessing, and will stay in Provo. What an exciting opportunity and we are so proud of her.
I have appreciated visiting by phone with Jim Jr.; Christi; Emily; Charlotte and Mary. I do so wish we all lived within walking distance of each other:).
Here’s a closing picture of our office couples and the couple out at Camp Alpine after we ate dinner together on the first Saturday in January. We are planning another get-together this coming Saturday, February 9th:)!
Left to right: The Terrys, the Routs, the Oliphants & the Caldwells!
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