Special Days in March:
6th - Holly's birthday...we wish her a very happy one:)!
9th - Henry Earl Burgis - Robin's youngest - 6 years old!
13th - Aunt Linda's birthday - anyone who could remember her with a card or phone call would be most appreciated by your mom:)!
16th - for those who remember Osiris, this is his birthday
16th - and for everyone, Melissa Anne Bullinger will be 11 years old!!!
22nd - guess who:)? Emily Elizabeth of course! I think these last two are very good ones to remember:)!
Thought for the Week:
This is from a talk by Elder Boyd K. Packer, The Key to Spiritual Protection, from the last conference. Once again, as I hear of all the bad stuff in the world today, I recommend re-reading or watching the whole talk:). Here's the thought:
"Parents today wonder if there is a safe place to raise children. There is a safe place to raise children. It is in a gospel-centered home. We focus on the family in the Church, and we counsel parents everywhere to raise their children in righteousness."
Family Notes: Mary Elizabeth called last Sunday morning as she was driving from Sarasota to Miami. Looking at a map it looks like she drove from one side of the state to the other:). She was going to look at possible locations for additional Sub Zeros after having done training on Saturday, which must mean they already have a store in Sarasota:)! We had fun visiting, talked about family hopefully possibly together in July to our Treasure Valley home and hopefully in December to Texas; then I found out that Michael had accepted a promotion - with benefits, including 4 weeks of vacation - at Old Navy, which is way good:)! Congratulations to Michael!
Emily called later in the afternoon, not sounding so great as she had a sinus infection she was fighting, but we had a good visit too. Turns out she and Rose bought a car (Toyota Highlander) while Adam and Eli were up at Big Bear in the snow, helping Eli learn to snowboard (see facebook videos!). That comes after learning about Steve's car purchase the day before:). Apparently Rose has really developed a liking (or should I say LOVE) for Imp - as Em takes her with her to go see, feed, etc. Starting her early:) Looking forward to seeing them in a few weeks if all goes according to plan!
Tried calling John, but didn't get him...will have to try again later. Did get to visit with Ammon a bit; Chris was "pushing feed," Rachel watching Duck Dynasty, Becca and Melissa cleaning their rooms:) Checking temperatures on my way home from church, they got the cold award.
John called me Tuesday; sounded good...the ordination did not happen on Sunday, he said they are still waiting on something - so we'll look forward to it later:). Mary called in the evening - guess I had the dates wrong; she had gotten back to Provo on Monday and was headed to Washington (Puyallup) Wednesday. She plans on staying with Charlette and Seth - so hope that works! I guess it is only an hour or so away, but of course traffic can change all of that:). Sub Zero must be doing well - they sure have their office people going all over the place:)!
Have enjoyed seeing family pictures on the Oliphant Family Facebook page - and sure hope everyone in the family has found it and will post things of interest. The days of the good old fashioned letter seem to be gone and the effort to stay up with everyone is a continual one:)! One that I don't always feel so successful at....
Not sure if this is family notes or mission notes... came home Friday and started taking down the pictures in our apartment; all are down now, the walls are bare - it really brings home the reality of the move. Dad managed to get lots of boxes and other stuff over to the motor home Saturday and we plan to take it down to Roseburg on Tuesday; originally thought we would do that Saturday, but then it seemed more logical to just spend the day packing up things and putting them over in the motor home, then go get a quick dinner and go to the stake conference session. Worked out pretty well. My heart continues to struggle with some things, but I know it will all get resolved...just need to keep moving forward.
Cannot remember other calls today - my head is just too full of other things:). John B. did call me just before our stake conference today and was in the Family History Center doing genealogy stuff...needed my parents names:). Go John!
Mission Notes: Don't remember much of Monday; Wednesday all seemed well despite our absence on Tuesday. We got a lot done on Tuesday down in Roseburg and much more on Thursday... got up early and headed to Roseburg - U-Haul. Picked up a truck and drove back to the house. Got everything in order and waited for the Melrose Elders and the Zone Leaders to arrive and help load the truck. They came, and they did - very grateful for all their help. Dad still had to carry plenty and can tell the strain on his back. As he said, age does make a difference:). My contribution, other than to suggest what should go where, was to make lunch for all, abeit a late lunch by the time they got two trips done. Lasagne, salad and bread with brownies and ice cream for dessert. I think the Melrose elders enjoyed it; the zone leaders had to leave for an appointment after the first trip, so we continued on without them. We took a last small load over to the storage unit, then Dad put some gas in the truck and returned it and we drove first to the house to do a couple of things and grab our stuff, then headed back to Eugene. Had leftover cauliflower soup and BLTs for dinner. I don't know if all this stuff is boring, but hope not. I plan to print off all these posts so that I have a paper journal for the last two years...could not manage both while working at the office:(.
Decided to add...while waiting for Dad and the elders to return from the second trip to the storage unit, I stepped out on the porch to enjoy the sunshine. Standing there, looking over the field into the trees and listening the the sound of the creek and the birds singing I was overcome with the beauty before me and could not help but ask myself the question, "Why would any one in their right mind want to sell this?" The obvious answer is that we get older and have to make changes in our lives as our bodies gradually lose their ability to keep up with what we once did; I pray that we can make those changes gracefully and without complaint as we have been so very blessed in so many ways for so very long:).
Friday we had a mission conference with a Seventy and the head of the missionary department in SLC; the Seventy is here to re-organize the Santa Clara 6th Stake this weekend. The mission conference was wonderful; so very glad to have still been here to be a participant. Once again I have learned so very much and am so grateful for the opportunity. We went to the evening session of Stake Conference Saturday night - it was great too:). Today we found out who the new stake president is - a man in our ward here - and Bishop Fouts was called as the 2nd counselor. I think back to his call as the Roseburg stake president so many years ago and how the Lord has kept him so busy ever since:). I don't know how fast they will find us a new bishop...Dad says it takes time, but it seems to me they would work on it fairly quickly:). It would be fun to know before we leave...but next Sunday will be our last Sunday here...so we probably won't know right away:)
As we listend to the conference today, once again I have felt the blessings of the call to serve in this mission. So many things learned, so many wonderful people met, it has just been a wonderful blessing in our lives. I wish there were so way to package it all up and give it to every one of you, but recognize that the Lord will have your own blessings in store for you:).
I guess I could attach pictures of our dwindling apartment - but I think that is a little depressing, so won't. Hope everyone has a great week ahead! Love you forever!!!
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