A Thought for this day: Quoting from our RS lesson (p. 134) "Our children, if we are diligent in cultivating in ourselves the pure principles of life and salvation, will grow up in the knowledge of these things and be able with greater facility than ourselves, to promote the order of heaven and establish happiness and peace around them." (Lorenzo Snow)
When I read this, memories of my struggles over the past 38+ years (can it really be that long since we joined the church...I'm afraid the answer is yes...) to fully live the gospel and to teach and pass it on to my children came flooding over me, along with the question, Did I do all that I could, all that I should have...??? I think actually that is a forever question for any parent, any mother. But when I look at my children and the lives they are leading now and I see how much more advanced they are in their living of the gospel than I was at their age, I tell myself it is OK, they are all wonderful. Wonderful children, wonderful parents, wonderful in every way that counts and I love each and every one, and their families, more than words can say. Happy Mother's Day to each who are mothers and to those who will be mothers in the future:)! What more could a mother want as a gift than this? Nothing.
Coming Up: Happy Birthday to Aunt Cathie on the 16th and Happy 10th Anniversary to Emily and Adam on that same day! Amazing.
We had a nice week, made even nicer by receiving real mail...Thanks to each of you for the cards, calls & contacts...I loved it. Monday night we went to an Empty Nesters FHE, first one we have made here in Eugene. I had made my food contribution (a black bean & corn quineoa salad) Sunday evening so having that already done prompted me to actually go despite being so very tired at the end of the day. I am glad we did; it was nice to meet and get to know a few people in our ward here a little better. I have a goal of making it to the RS night this coming Thursday... hopefully I will rise above my tiredness and actually do it then!
Tuesday was Tai Chi again...sometimes I think we are getting better...sometimes I wonder. Hopefully... we'll see. On Wedensday I got a fun note from Eli (yes, with his mom's help)...which made my day. Words written for him by his mom: "Dear Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Jim, Thanks for coming to see me. (I think maybe he forgot about Rose's blessing:) I would really like to go fishing in your pond. I like to hear stories about Violet, the goat. I miss you. I love you. Eli (written in cursive, kind of, by his own hand?) Then a drawing followed, which might be construed by some as scribbling, but as the work of a genius by a grandma... with little arrows & explanations (by mom) as to what different parts of the drawing represented: Violet, the goat; a big fish; a little fish; letters - A and B. Pretty amazing - and wonderful:) Tried a new recipe that night, a Chipotle Tamale Pie, which turned out quite well. Used the recipe I found but altered it a little (bad habit of mine) and used our old recipe for the tamale part.
Thursday had a card from Jeanie & Jim and Jim called; I felt badly that I had to cut my time with him short because I was training the person who is supposed to do the jobs I do for the new Salem mission, but he and dad had a good talk I think. Thursday night I tried another new recipe, this time for Asparagus Soup. It turned out really good and Dad even thought it was a good dinner. All of these cooking efforts were planned last weekend when I wrote them all down and bought the necessary ingredients; probably the most real cooking I have done in the past year +. Friday I got a card from Holly and Steve and a package from Emily (which I had been warned not to open 'til today) who said it was also from Mary, who was down in California this past week working on the SubZero store in Carlsbad - at least I think it is in Carlsbad - and who stayed with Emily and Adam while there. They had a good visit. Just a note: Mary is headed for Indianapolis, Indiana this coming week; she's becomingi quite a traveler.
Should also mention that another little package had arrived much earlier with the same instructions from Christi:) Thanks to all for thinking of me; it made for a wonderful week. Oh yes...another happy note for my week...the little pot of roses that Sara sent to me while I was in the rehab center 2 years ago now, dwindled from 3 to 1 surviving plant this past winter, but that one is now blooming with those beautiful yellow roses. Isn't that amazing:)? I love it.
We kind of ended the week by joining with the other senior office couples yesterday for a trip to Camp Alpine, about an hour from Eugene, where many scout camps and girls camps are held. Roseburg has been coming up to Camp Alpine for girls camp for several years, but I am thinking that started after all of my girls had left the nest. It is absolutely beautiful, a wonderful place to camp (and they DO camp - no cabins here!) and we really enjoyed spending the time together with the senior couples who maintain the camp there. We had a great dinner - everyone brought their own meat to barbeque and we contributed salads. I made the quineoa salad again - only it was even better this time, so I was happy about that. Charlotte called while we were driving to the camp and we visited for quite a while despite a few cell service interruptions. Sounds like things are going well for the Huyetts and it was fun to hear from her. She has agreed with John Bullinger to help provide some drawings for a new game he is creating; hoping he understands that she is not quick about these things:)! John is in his last week of finals before changing over to his summer plan of work. We wish him well!
I think this is all for this week...this past week was pretty busy with the training stuff for the new mission and I didn't take good family notes of what to say about others, but anyone who wishes to add comments is certainly invited to do so! (I think you just have to log in first to do that and the log in stuff is on the e-mail that accompanies this) Just hoping to help keep us all connected. I forgot to mention that a package was waiting last night from Jim and Jeanie - a Shutterfly alblum of pics from our Family Reunion in Yellowstone. Wonderful memories - so much fun. I wish we were all getting together some time this year...but the only thing I can think of at this point is to try for a possible trip to Disneyland in October - which would necessitate taking kids out of school for a week and I am not so sure all would be willing to do that. If you would like me to try checking on it, let me know and I will talk to the Vacation Choices people and see how expensive it would be. Love to all, Mom O
No comments:
Post a Comment