A GOOD THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.

Have patience as you are perfecting your ability to be led by the Spirit. By careful practice, through the application of correct principles, and by being sensitive to the feelings that come, you will gain spiritual guidance. I bear witness that the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, can speak to your mind and heart. Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down like spiritual dictation.?
Richard G. Scott:   To Acquire Spiritual Guidance from the   Ensign, Nov. 2009, 9
Topics: Holy Ghost

ARIANNA MOVED BACK HOME !

It wad decided yesterday that Arianna would move back home into Stephanie's house-instead of living with her dad. She had been living there for about a year. I guess she found out that "the other side of the fence" isn't greener after all. I believe the relationship between her and her step-mother was not the greatest.


Yesterday just brought things to a head. Stephanie had been allowing it to happen naturally. It's been looking like this would happen soon. Arianna's counselor (doctor) had said to let Arianna make the decision. (She admitted on Christmas, that she had considered suicide because she was so unhappy. She also said that she realized that being with all of her family gathered around her-that she was much happier.) After yesterday, Stephanie decided to make the decision herself.
Rick & I are both grateful that Arianna is back home. We believe she is in a lot better enviromnent at Stephanie's house than where she was living-better life standards. Stephanie no longer goes to our church. They quit attending ours when they moved back to Twin Falls. They attend a non-denominational church. She said that Arianna was even excited about going to church this Sunday. That's good. (Her father's house didn't have any religion.)
Heavenly Father answers prayers in very natural ways. THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER!

CLARA MCMURDIE COLEY

Yesterday, our family celbrated Rick's Grandma's birthday. (Grandma is Rick's Mom's Mom.) She turns 96 years old tomorrow. She lives in a Nursing Home in Gooding, Idaho. The lady on the left is Rick's Mom-Colleen- and her sister-Ranae is on the right. Of course, Grandma is the one setting in the wheelchair.
I'm grateful to see that Grandma looks better than the last time I saw her. I believe she misses her husband. She talked about him quite a lot. (He's been dead for several years. He was Rick's best friend.)
Grandma always had lots of food for everyone at family outings. She was a hard worker in her earlier years.

This is a picture of me & Rick with his Grandma. (Rick's Dad took the picture for us- on our camera.)

This is a picture of Rick & his brother-Dan.

HOO-RAY !

I thought I'd share something with you. When I was subbing at the Temple on Wednesday, the Temple President shared a piece of information with us. He said that the TWIN FALLS TEMPLE IS THE BUSIEST OF ALL OF THE "SMALLER TEMPLES" THRU OUT THE ENTIRE CHURCH. That's exciting news. He said that we are keeping our growth up slowly, but steady.

HEAVENLY FATHER BLESSES-WHEN WE MAKE THE EFFORT.

I need to share with you my growth in learning the Spanish Ordinances at the Temple. I've never taken any Spanish in school. However, this is something that I really want to do. I've learned all of it in Spanish. I've had the opportunity to actually do part of it in Spanish. (I haven't had very many opportunities yet-but I will.) Both times I had the opportunities, the sisters were very appreciative of me for learning the ordinance work in their language.
I subbed yesterday on the day shift. Wednesday evening are one of the Spanish shifts. I made arrangements to stay an hour later and have a Spanish speaking sister mentor me with how to actually pronounce the words. She said she was amazed that I was so-o-o good at most of it. In reality, she only helped me with just a few words. WOW ! THANKS HEAVENLY FATHER FOR BLESSING ME WITH LEARNING THIS. The mentor actually let me practice the Veil Ordinance work out loud with her. That was great experience! I had to actually think about what she was saying-because I was practicing as the patron. The first time you say it out loud is a lot different than saying it in your head quietly all of the time.
I subbed this last Tuesday. I almost got another opportunity to use my Spanish Veil knowledge. The Coordinators forgot that I know how. They said that they would remember next time.
Another example of Heavenly Father Blessing us when we try: is my ability to play the piano. I've never had lessons. However, I continue to improve. I'm so thankful that Bishop called me to play the piano in Relief Society some years back. It was difficult, but because of that opportunity, I can set down and play most of the Primary songs, and a lot more of the regular hymns -without playing the simplified version.
(However, I still prefer to play the Primary songs and the simplified hymnbook.)

HEATHER'S LAST DAY OF WORK

Well, I thought I'd explain the AdSense that I added to my blog. I thought I'd try it out for awhile and see if it actually does generate any income. PLEASE, IF ANY OF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE, LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE AD. Then, I will remove it.
Monday was good weather-for winter time. I was grateful for the opportunity to get all of my Christmas decorations from outside put up. That's pretty early. Usually, it's closer to March when I get them put up.
Monday was also Heather's last day at work. The business went bankrupt. Since her husband only has a seasonal job and lives off of unemployment during the winter, and now she will be on unemployment also-I'm worried. I know Heavenly Father will watch over them.

ONE LAST 2009 UPDATE & WII BOWLING

I forgot to post this picture of "Mady" at her Christmas Concert at O'Leary Jr. High/Middle School-2009. "Mady" had been playing the viola for about 1 year. She's still in the beginning stages of experience.

Stephanie had told me that it would only last 1/2 hour. Her directions to the building were a little off. I went to the office and asked for directions. By the time I got to the correct building, I nearly missed the concert. I got there in time for the last 3 songs. Oh well, I was very proud of her. I believe this is a very difficult instrument to learn.

Stephanie & Mike have a Wii game. Stephanie thought we needed a night out of the house. (Believe me, we did. We went to the movie-"BlindSide" first, then out to supper before we stopped at Stephanie's house. I had to force Rick to make the effort. Afterwards, he was glad that I forced him.)

Stephanie is pretty good at Wii Bowling. She even won a ladies competition-thru church. She invited us and Rick's folks over to play.

It was our first time playing the game. It took most of the first game to figure out how to play. We had a fun evening. My second score was 209. That was my best score.

I believe we will eventually get one of these games-when we can figure it in our budget. With this, at least Rick would not be setting on the couch, sleeping all day long.

Thanks Stephanie for inviting us.

Not much happening with Rick. He constantly fights depression. He had a nice visit with our Bishop yesterday. He uplifted today. Mondays are the days that he checks recommends at the Temple for Cleaning people and repair people. He also is supposed to help out at the L.D.S. Employment Office. (He's been called to a mission for that. He's only gone once.) After visiting with our Bishop, he's going to try to do that now.

The Temple re-opens from maintenance time tomorrow. I'm subbing for a friend that broke her ankle on New Year's Eve. She works on "Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so for awhile, I'm pretty busy.

CLARIFICATION

I don't know why the computer or blog site messed up on the order of : MORE CATCHING UP FOR 2009 PARTS 1, 2 & 3. I posted them in order, but they didn't get printed in order. I've wasted too much time this morning posting these blogs (and catching up on family blogs) to do anything else. Just read all 3 parts. They are labeld in order of happening.

MORE CATCHING UP-2009 PART TWO

Can I share something fun with you?
About a week before Christmas, I had Visiting Teachers. The phone rang. Rick said that I was wanted. I asked him to take a message. He asked if this was one of these stupid phone calls asking for money. They said: "No, they were actually trying to give money away." After my Visiting Teachers left, I called back. The Radio Station-Mix 103 had a "12 Days of Christmas Give-A-way Promotion". (I don't like this Radio Station. I?m not sure how I heard about it.) The guy asked me if I remember signing up for this contest at a certain place. I don't even know what place he said. No, I don't remember signing up. He said that I had written HAPPY HOLIDAYS on the back of the entry form. I do remember doing that. (I think it was at my local grocery store-so they must have been affiliated with the radio station.)
I only filled out one entry form. They saved the best prize for the last day-which was my day. I won a trip-sort of. They are paying the hotel bill and free admission to a few attractions while there.
There were 4 choices: (1) 5 days and 4 nights to Las Vegas. WE HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO GO TO LAS VEGAS AGAIN IN OUR LIFETIME- SO THAT OPTION IS OUT. We hated las Vegas ! !
(2) 5 Days and 4 nights to Seattle. Free admission to ride the Space Needle-not free food to the restaurant once up there. Free Harbor Tour and Free admission to the Aquarium
(3) 4 Days and 3 nights to the Grand Canyon -with Free admission to the Park
(4)4 Days and 3 nights to Jackson Hole.-with Free admission to both the Teton Park and Yellowstone Park, Free admission to Ripleys's Believe or Not Museum and if we went in the winter-Free lift tickets to ski.
Since we have to pay for getting to our destination and other enjoyments, we decided to go to Jackson Hole. We checked into what attractions were available that fit into our budget. It will be a little "pricey" for us, but we can pull it off. We are going to float the river with an evening BBQ one day, another day we will have a Chuck Wagon Ride into the mountains-Chuck Wagon Dinner and Cowboy musical program, we are also hoping to ride the Gondola up the mountain and ride the Practice Luge Run down the hill. That's besides going into both parks. Our hotel serves continental breakfasts, so we won't have to worry about too many meals. We figure it will cost us around $300.00. That's not bad. It's about what we'd pay for a week's worth of camping, 4-wheeling and buying food and gas. We're pretty excited. We're planning on doing this during the summer maintenance time of our Temple. The weather may still be a little cool, but we're excited! We have one year to take the trip from the day that it was registered. I believe it was registered on the 29th of December.

MORE CATCHING UP FOR 2009 PART THREE

We had planned on inviting mom/Grandma to our house for Christmas Eve. Then, Stephanie invited her to her house for supper on Christmas Day. Mom thought 2 days in a row would be too much on her. So we cut out our Christmas Eve. That meant for a very quiet evening for Rick & I-nothing to do-especially with Rick sleeping most of his life away.

The next day was spent at Rick's parents house. A much smaller group of people than normal. It was kind of quiet there also. When we got home, Mom had left a message on our answering machine. She wasn't feeling good-a bad case of diarrhea. She didn't get to come for Christmas Evening at Stephanie's. I felt so bad for her. This being her first Christmas in the Nursing Home, I didn't want her to be alone. Thankfully, Grant and James and the twins had visited her on Christmas Eve Day. They had lunch together at the Nursing Home.

We had a nice meal and evening at Stephanie's house. Heather's husband-Chad- and Stephanie's youngest are best buddies. I'm including a picture.

"Kenna", Uncle Chad & "Bekha"

(I always put family names in brackets because they are not their real names. It's what we've grown to use for each of them.)

Grant had asked me if I would take the twins for a week. He needed a break. We met them in Burley on Sunday after Christmas around 5:15 p.m. The following Tuesday, I subbed at the Temple. The twins spent the day volunteering at the D.I. It was good for them, better than having nothing to do at my house while Rick sleeps. (Grant has them volunteering most of the time in Pocatello.) They forgot to bring their church clothes. Before we left the D.I., they bought some black slacks and white shirts, and church shoes. One of them spent around $15.00 and the other one spent around $20.00. One of them bought waist size 35 and the other one bought waist size 34. Both of their shirts were size medium. When they went to church with me the following Sunday, they looked pretty sharp. I wish I would have taken a picture of them looking that slim. During the week, it was appreciated to have some help around the house. They shoveled snow a few times-twice on New Year's Eve because it snowed about 5-7 inches after Mom came for supper. The twins also helped Rick with loading the coal a few times. Thanks to both of them for your help. Grant picked them up on the Wednesday after New Years.

We picked up Mom around 5:00 p.m. for New Year's Eve Supper. The Twins had not seen the Christmas lights at the Mall. I went there first. Then, Mom had not seen some other spectacular lights - friends from the Temple. I drove past their lane. By the time we finished enjoying the lights, the weather was getting worse. I called Rick and asked him to finish up supper while I was driving home. We had a pleasant meal and then watched a Hallmark movie that came on around Thanksgiving Time. It was called: "A Dog Named Christmas". That has been our Christmas Eve tradition with Dad & Mom and the twins for some time. This year, it was just postponed until New Years Eve (of course not with Dad).

When I picked up Mom, she said that I would have felt bad if the Nursing Home would have called me and told me that they lost her. I didn't know what she was implying at first. She proceeded to tell me. When they went to get her up for lunch around 11:15, they couldn't wake her up. It took almost 40 minutes to wake her up. They took every test possible and said she was o.k. Later, in the evening, Mom said that Dad was talking to her. Basically all she remembers him saying was: Helen, Helen, HELEN. I wouldn't be too surprised if she passes on soon-just because she's ready. To be truthful, I'm o.k. with that when it happens. She deserves to be with Dad, Alan, Ryan, Sean and her parents.

Well, I better finish with an upbeat. A friend from the Boise Temple that works in the Twin Falls Temple always gives us $100.00 for Christmas. Her husband started it 3 years ago. Then, he died shortly after Dad did. She continued giving us the money the last 2 years. She says Donald wanted us to have it. The first year, she said that Donald had our name on the $100.00 bill in his drawer. This year, as I was subbing on her shift just before Christmas, she stuffed another $100.00 bill into my hand and said it was from Donald. Rick's folks just gave us money this year instead of Gift Certificates. I put my $75.00 towards a Carpet Cleaner. Yes, I had to pay some extra for it. It was one of the best/needed presents I could have bought for myself. Having house pets causes accidents. So, thank you Yulah & (Donald) and Rick's parents. I love my Carpet Cleaner!

MORE CATCHING UP FOR 2009 part one

Stephanie & Mom

Mom/Grandma's Nursing Home had a Family Christmas Dinner for all of the residents. Stephanie, "Mady" & "Kenna" and Rick & I went. Mom's table is right up front of the room-right by the piano. They had VERY LOUD MUSIC (if you could call it music). They weren't even playing Christmas Music. None of us at our table could even visit with each other. Except during the few short time periods that they were deciding which song to play next. It was a family group: Grandma pounding on the piano, son blaring a tuba-a special one used for the Bronco Games and a granddaughter playing something else. After we were done eating, I begged them to play some Christmas music. They played old songs that no one recognized, except "Go Tell It On The Mountain". I was hoping for some traditional Christmas music-like the hymns. By the time that I begged them to play Christmas music, many people had already left. We heard later in the week that everyone was disappointed with the background music.

Mom appreciated us making the effort to be there with her. I appreciated Stephanie and 2 of her girls making the effort also. She's such a sweet daughter!

The meal was actually pretty for good -we had fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, veggies and some sweet thing-churros I think.

Best Friends "Kenna" & "Bonka"

Me (Diane/Grandma) & "Mady"