As I write this Dad is in Roseburg at the Motel 6; he and Michael left early this morning on Delta. Michael has very kindly taken time off of his work to go with Dad to help him load out the rest of our belongings from the storage units and drive the truck(s) back to the new house in South Jordan. They are planning to drive back Thursday and Friday and we have help from the ward in South Jordan coming to unload the trucks on Saturday - although truthfully Dad and I both are a little nervous about where we will put everything. I have a feeling that that huge basement will be a lot more full after this next weekend:).
On Thursday, Sara and Abby had a horse show in South Jordan, so we went up earlier with Payton and Jocee. I had instructed them to bring toys to play with and when we got there told them they could pick one of the bedrooms downstairs to be their playroom because I would be working upstairs unpacking boxes. Payton really wanted to help me, so I told her I would call down whenever I needed her. Not long after arriving they were so excited and wanted me to come down and see their room, so I did. They had happily arranged all their belongings in the closet of the bedroom they chose...I think at that moment they would have chosen to stay there forever:). However, about 30 minutes later they wanted to change bedrooms because the other one had two closets - and that way each of them could have their own! Sara let us know when Abby would be riding and we went over to the show; afterwards, we had Sara follow us back to the house (with horses in tow) and she got to see it for the first time. Dad went and picked up KFC and we had our first "meal" in the house and watched a Duck Dynasty episode as Dad had gotten the DVD player working. Then we all gathered up and headed back to Payson.
Yesterday, we picked up Michael and then Mary and drove back up to the house, thinking it would be easier to sleep there (even tho Mary had only the Lazy Boy and Michael had only the floor) and have only a 20 minute drive to the airport than to have to start out so very early from down here. Got up at 6 this morning, had donuts and juice (or chocolate milk) before leaving, then got Dad and Michael delivered to the airport and Mary and I drove back to her house in time for her to get ready for church and I got back to Payson in time to work on preparing for the temple preparation class that we have been teaching, but had no time this week to prepare for it. It turned out really well, so I felt really blessed. Later today, when I was in the house with Sara & kids, Dad called to let me know he was settled in to the motel room (Michael is staying with his family) and he and Michael were all set up to do a little bit of work tomorrow trying to get our Treasure Valley sign out of the planter at the end of the road...hope it works as easily as Dad seems to think it will:).
I feel like we haven't been much help here the last couple of days and worry about Sara taking on too much of the work...but have no solution to that other than to try hard tomorrow and the rest of the week to help as much as I can. On Friday I will go back up to the house and do a little more unpacking...have a cardiologist appointment in the afternoon and am looking forward to my new cardiologist. He was recommended by one of the counselors in the bishopric of our new ward, so I hope he is as good as we were told:). Also, talking to a neighbor on Thursday, found out the ward has a new bishopric - so that is interesting too.
I was asked to share my testimony for the Melrose ward RS newsletter this month, which I did, and I have decided I want all of my children and grandchildren to have it as well... so will put it at the end of this post. I apologize for not keeping up with birthday and anniversary notices and hope to get back to doing that in January. For anyone who hasn't heard - altho I think you all have - we are planning to drive the MH to Texas after Patrick returns and will spend Christmas with Jim and Jeanie, then will drive the southern route to California and spend time with Emily and Adam before driving back up to Oregon. Hope to have a weekend in Roseburg to visit with my sister and the ward and then drive up to Eugene to pick up the houseplants that the good Sister who took my place in the office has been caring for since we left. They will take up quite a bit of room in the MH as we drive back to South Jordan, but I'm sure we'll survive. It will be wonderful to actually have them in the new home and wonderful to actually settle down for a little while in a real home! Also - I just posted on Facebook tonight (the Oliphant Family one) that Steve and Holly are coming to visit us December 4th through 11th! Steve could not get Thanksgiving or Christmas off and is taking what he can get:)! As I said on the Facebook page, if anyone wants to come and see them and meet Anslee, you're invited too:)! It will be very interesting to see how much we can get done in the house between now and Thanksgiving and their visit:). I am hoping very much that the weather here continues mild through mid December when we leave...perhaps that is too optimistic:).
OK - it is way past my bedtime so I will close with the testimony I shared in the RS newsletter; Love to All!!!
I was asked to share my testimony and I think this is a good time to do that because the past almost-3 years have been some of the most difficult years of my life and I have learned personally that it is through our trials that we come to know God. I can’t quote properly but I know I have heard stories of pioneers who endured terrible sacrifices but who would not have traded those times because through those times they came to truly know God; I have not experienced anything close to what they went through, but the last several years have been some of the most difficult of my life and through my trials my testimony has grown beyond anything I could have imagined.
I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that he loves us beyond any love I can imagine. I know that He gave everything that we might live with Him again and I look forward to that so very much. I know that His Gospel was restored to the earth through Joseph Smith, who also endured more than I can imagine and I am so very grateful to him for all he gave so that we can enjoy the blessings of the restored gospel now. I know His church is perfectly organized to help us, as imperfect people, come closer to Him. I know His church is led by modern day prophets and apostles who give their all to the building up of His kingdom and bless us continually with inspired guidance and direction. I know that as I, an unworthy servant, strive to keep His commandments in all things I am constantly blessed even when things seem hard or I am having trouble understanding; the last several years have proven that to me over and over again. (Mosiah 2:24) I have learned when things seem hard or I am having trouble understanding to ask myself, “What does the Lord want me to learn from this?” and “How does He want me to grow through this?”
We are nearing the end of a 3 year odyssey and as we left our home with the first large truckload of belongings a couple of weeks ago, we traveled the Umpqua Highway towards Diamond Lake - although that was not one of the suggested routes on our GPS. At first I thought my husband was a little strange to go that way...but as we drove through the forested beauty surrounding the river route I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessing of having lived in such beauty for the past 27 years, gratitude for the beautiful people I have associated with during those years, so grateful for the opportunity to help others during those years and so very grateful for help received. As we climbed higher in elevation the scenery around me changed, yet each change brought a new and different beauty - to include the rugged mountains and majestic cloud formations that met us in Utah. The Spirit whispered to my heart that there will be wondrous beauty around me wherever I go if I will just open my eyes and my heart to see it; I resolve to do just that:)! God is good, His creations are awesome, and the Plan of Salvation is a wonderful thing...my prayer is to be able to share it with others that they may share in its wondrous blessings. I share these thoughts and testimony with you, feeling an immense love for the members of the Melrose Ward and in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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