THANKFUL FOR THE GOSPEL.

This last Sunday, I had to take Rick back down to the University of Utah-Neuropsychiatric Hospital. I was feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and stress. Of course, I have to be strong for Rick's sake. However, I was really missing getting spiritually fed by attending church. On the way down to the hospital, I mentioned to Rick that I thought he should get a blessing if possible. He reminded me that the hospital has a Sacrament Meeting every week at 2:00 p.m. He said that if we got there in time, there would be someone that could give him a blessing.
That brought some hope for me. We got there a little late. We had missed the sacrament and the first talk was just about over. The brothers offered the Sacrament to us after his talk. I was feeling a little embarrassed because we weren't dressed for church. It felt good that they accepted us no matter how we were dressed. (The patients don't dress up for church, but it still bothered me.)
After the meeting, they willingly gave Rick a blessing-no questions asked. I was so grateful that they would do this for him-in our time of need.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT THE GOSPEL AND ALL OF IT'S BLESSINGS ARE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE-AND WHEREVER YOU GO-NO MATTER WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.----THANKS HEAVENLY FATHER, I NEEDED THAT.

RICK'S UPDATE & QUOTE FROM BARBARA BUSH

I thought I'd get caught up.  This picture was taken the day before Mom's birthday in February.  It took this long before I could get a copy of it into the computer. 
The gal at the Nursing Home that actually owns Mom's dog now, had it taken so she could give the picture to her for her birthday.  That was a nice gesture on her part.  (This picture is not as good as quality as the original, but it's a good picture of Mom.)

Well, I haven't given an update on Rick for awhile.  I took him down to Salt Lake for Shock Treatments for his depression on the 7th of March.  In the beginning, it appeared that things were improving slightly.  He came home on the 23rd-a week ago tomorrow.  That day wasn't great, but still looked like possibly things may improve.  The next day, he fell apart after talking to his mom (that happens often).  I spent all day and all day on Thursday trying to get him a bed back at the hospital.  They didn't have one.  I took him back down to Salt Lake yesterday.  Rick was on a waiting list for a bed.  We were just going hoping he would get one because he was scheduled for another treatment this morning.  The hospital called us as we were traveling.  They had a bed available for Rick.  We got there in time for most of Sacrament Meeting that is provided at the hospital.  Afterwards, they gave Rick another blessing.  I readmitted him into the hospital.  I came back home.  I got home about 8:00 p.m.  I saw MANY DEER AND 2 GROUPS OF ELK on the way home.
As far as Rick is concerned, time will tell.  Right now, things don't look great.
I'D BETTER CLOSE WITH A GOOD THOUGHT.
Barbara Bush, wife of former United States president George Bush, spoke wisely when in Wellesley, Massachusetts, in 1990 she addressed the Wellesley College graduating class and said, 'Your success as a family, our success as society, depends not on what happens at the White House, but on what happens inside your house.' "   This quote was taken from a talk given by President Gordon B. Hinckley in the Ensign magazine -"Four Simple Things to Help Our Families and Our Nations," Sept. 1996




 

I REALLY LIKED THIS ARTICLE.

From a devotional address given at Brigham Young University—Idaho on October 30, 2007.
(I'M ONLY SHARING BITS AND PIECES OF IT. IF YOU WANT TO READ ALL OF IT-SCROLL DOWN THE SIDE OF BLOG UNTIL YOU FIND MY FAVORITE SITES. CLICK ON THE CHURCH SITE. THEN GO TO: GOSPEL LIBRARY, MAGAZINES, ENSIGN-2010 MARCH-LEARNING THRU LIFE'S TRIALS)
The trials of this life will ultimately lead to joy if we patiently trust in God’s plan and discover how to use adversity to grow stronger. ......
I’ve learned that the way I respond to trials can have a great effect on whether they become roadblocks in my life or expressways to learning and growth. When I anguish over difficulties, the experiences only serve to weigh me down. But remembering that these trials are part of the great plan of happiness helps me to see them as opportunities to grow and learn.
The Purposes of Adversity
Apostle Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God …
Trials give us opportunities to show the Lord and ourselves that we will be faithful. We can choose to feel sorry for ourselves and ask, “Why me?” or we can grow from our trials, increase our faith in the Lord, and ask, “How can I be faithful in the midst of this trial?”..... We can let adversity break us down and make us bitter, or we can let it refine us and make us stronger. We can allow adversity to lead us to drift away from the things that matter most, or we can use it as a stepping-stone to grow closer to things of eternal worth......
Benefiting from Adversity
Since adversity will come to us all, consider the following ideas to help face trials and benefit from them.
•Rely on Christ
One of the purposes of trials is to help us come to know Christ, understand His teachings in our minds, feel them in our hearts, and live them in our lives. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explains that God loves us perfectly and “would not require [us] to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for [our] personal benefit or for that of those [we] love.”

FRIDAY MARCH 12 -BIG DAY FOR OUR FAMILIES

Well, I had another opportunity to perform the Temple Initiatory work in Spanish.  I only got to do 2 of the booths, but it was great practice.  The Spanish Sister was just leaving and one of my regular English speaking sisters came.  She heard me speaking Spanish.  When she realized who I was, she said she speaks Spanish fluently. She said she didn't care if I practiced with her also.  I had one English Speaking patron also.  I would do Spanish with one, then do English with the next one.  I was able to practicve my Spanish for the whole hour that I was there.  They said they could understand me.  I didn't have to use my card (for help) hardly at all.  That was a pretty great way to finish the day.  I'd started out with a terrible headache.  In the evening, a friend asked if I still had my headace.  I didn't.  I had forgotten about that.  I was in too good of mood to dwell on my headace. 
I stopped by mom's place after my Temple shift.  I just missed seeing Gary & Debbie by about 15 minutes.  I ate supper with her.  I was pleased to hear that Jeremy asked Gary to baptize him tomorrow.

Laurie had her twins in the morning.  One was born at 10:00 a.m. and the other one was born at 10:01.  All 3 are doing well.  However one of the boys is not as good as the other.  Laurie is supposed to get to go home on Monday.  The boys are premature and will have to stay in the baby unit at the hospital for awhile.

Most of you probably know that Allison had her baby on Friday afternoon.  I'm not sure of the time.  She had a little girl.  Last I heard, they hadn't decided on a name yet.  It wasn't even a year ago, and Gary & Debbie had less grandkids than us.  Then, they got 2 new ones just before the end of the year.  They caught up with us then.  Well, with Alllison's new baby, Gary & Debbie have surpassed us now.  How wonderful!

ANOTHER UPDATE ON LAURIE

Steve just called me. He wasn't aware that Robyn had called me. The babies are over 4-lbs. each, their hearts are beating good. The Dr. doesn't think they will last the 2 weeks that they hope for. Probably, Laurie will have to have the surgery sooner.
Steve & Laurie have already named the twins. Mason Edward and Chance Alan. (Chance is spelled odd, but I don't remember how he said. It has a "Z" in it.) They will be known as Mason and Chance.

CATCHING UP--PICTURES, LIFE, ---LAURIE'S UPDATE

I told you that I had made a new Temple Garment bag during the holidays. I finally got around to adding a picture of it. Of course, it's red in color. My old one was also-because red is my favorite color. (You should see my closet-many versions of red.)

I'm not adding a picture of my Temple skirt that I made. It's pretty, but the material is not of good quality. I wore it for the first time yesterday and it snagged in many places. (I've had the material in my closet for about 3 years, so I can't take it back.) So much for all of the time that I put into it to make it. While I was making it, my machine wasn't working very well. It has triple seams everywhere. My machine has been repaired since then. It had a metal plate that was wore out and causing the tension to not be good.


About 2 Fridays ago, Stephanie was at work. She was opening a box, and sliced the palm of her hand. She ended up having 16 stitches on it. The next day when she woke up, they had opened. She had to go to the Dr. again. This time her hand was wrapped up in ace bandage to protect the stitches. I believe she has the stitches out by now.
That afternoon, Rick & I fulfilled a Temple assignment. He prefers to do Sealings. I prefer to do Initiatory. Because of other responsibilities, we opted to do Initiatory. That was great, because the Shift Coordinator knows that I've learned the Spanish. I was able to be a patron in the Spanish Booth. That really helped me.
After the Temple, we rushed to Filer. Heather was celebrating Jacob's birthday (his birthday is the 15th of February.) We watched them bowl.

We gave him a jar of cash for his present.

Jacob gets a little embarrassed at times.

That evening, we had a Stake Relief Society dinner for our spouses also. It was a great evening. The first Counselor of out Temple and his wife had gone on a mission to India. They came and shared pictures and stories of the mission. It's neat, because many years ago, -about 25-27 years. He was our Stake president. He is the one that said, "I promise you if you pay your tithing, we will have a Temple in Twin Falls." After that, I just kept hoping people would do as he said. Look at us now, we serve in that Temple.

I took Rick down to Salt Lake this last Friday. He's at the University of Utah getting a series of shock treatments. This is sort of a last ditch try at getting a handle on his depression. We've heard good reports on this therapy. It usually has at least 80% chance of some improvement. At this point, any improvement is good. He will be there about a week and a half. Then he will go down as an outpatient to get the remaining ones in the series. He will need about 10-12 treatments. He may need more occasionally. Time will tell.

Laurie's mom called last night. This last Saturday, her water broke from one of the twins. She's not due until the 5th of May. Today, she is 32 weeks. The Dr.s are hoping they can wait 2 more weeks, before they take the babies. Her surgery is scheduled for the 24th - I believe. Robyn said that all 3 are doing well and under good care. The babies have a good weight-4 lbs. Laurie will be on antibiotics until her surgery to prevent infection-since her water broke. Laurie is in the Twin Falls hospital-room number 281. Laurie will be having some kind of treatments often. If you plan to visit, it may be better to call her before you visit. Her personal phone number is: 208-358-3989. She has her phone with her.

Well, I've spent way too much time on the computer. I need to get busy.

THANKS HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE AHA MOMENT.

Today was fast & Testimony meeting. I am the 2nd counselor in Primary. It was so-o gratifying when some of our Primary kids got up and bore their testimonies. When I could tell that they were actually thinking about what they would say next, instead of just memorizing something, I realized that we are doing a good job in Primary. They really are listening. We need to be a good example always.