TRIALS OF THE HEART & MIRACLES

Since August, there has been a situation in my life that is very trying. There is one lady that I see every week. She does not like me. In fact, she has gone out of her way to let me know that. I honestly don't know what I did to offend her. I prayed about the situation. My answer was to ask her if we could visit and apologize. I did that. When I asked if we could visit, she flat out told me NO. I was devastated. I thought I was doing the right thing-to make things better. I did apologize, but I never got the chance to find out what I had done to offend her. The situation got completely blown out of control. I've cried many tears over this situation. I've also added her and my names on the Prayer Roll weekly at the Temple. More than once, I asked her husband what I should do to make things right. He didn't have an answer. He knew that I was honestly tyring to make things right. Weekly, I continue to pleasantly tell her hi and continue to smile at her whenever I see her. I've tried to let her know that I care when something goes wrong in her life.
HERE'S THE MIRACLE:
During these last 6 months, I've continued to try to make things right.
SHE IS BEGINNING TO SOFTEN. NOW, WHEN I ASK HER HOW SHE IS, SHE ALMOST SMILES AT ME AND ANSWERS IN A KINDLY MANNER! This is a huge miracle in itself. Thank You Heavenly Father for always being aware of our needs. Sometimes blessings take time to happen. While you're waiting for them to happen-do all that you can to help them be fulfilled. Pray for answers. Listen to them and then act upon that inspiration.

TEARS OF JOY

I had a pleasant surprise this morning. I got several notices that someone has been checking out our blog. It's open to the public. The comments that they added were all good comments. For the most part, it sounded as if they enjoyed what I had to say about the church. Their comments said that they liked hearing these things and that they seemed to want to know more.
SOME OF THEIR COMMENTS: I think I come to the right place, because for a long time do not see such a good thing! I think this is a good blog. I will pass on your article introduced to my other friends, because really good. I think I want to find me. I will tell my other friends on all! Although we have differences in culture, this view is the same & I like that. Good Words. Some of the content is very worthy of my drawing. I like your information.
Now, back to my feelings. Wow! Thanks Heavenly Father for allowing me to hear these positive comments. I must be sharing the right things. The gospel, is the only way that families can be together forever.
For any of you people that are reading this -that are not members of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints-there is a way for you to find out more. Please click on the picture of the Twin Falls Temple for more information about how you can become a member. Click on the "Ask A Question" tab. Then, click on the "Have missionaries contact me" tab.
Thanks for sharing your comments about my blog.

As an after thought. Some of these readers said they wished that I had links to my blog. To be truthful, I don't know what they are for. I wouldn't know what to link them to or how to do that.

FROST PICTURES

I just love the frost and how pretty it is. I thought I'd share a few pictures of frost at our place.

HISTORY MADE TODAY.

History was made today. The 44th President of the United States was put into office today. What makes this situation history making is this: He is our first African American elected into this position. I wouldn't have mentioned this subject had it not been a historical day. It needs to be remembered.
If he is able to accomplish his campaign promises, maybe the world will be better. I truly don't think any President is able to accomplish all of their campaign promises -because of the system. He cannot make choices by himself. I have mixed emotions about him being into office.

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY THIS VIDEO.

I thought you might enjoy this video. Yes, I know it's late. (It takes me sometime to view e-mails that I know are going to take extra time. This video takes over 5 minutes. I just got around to it today.
Check out this web site: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxKas2Mcjg4 It's a good message for everyone-no matter what time of the year it is.
Diane

EVENING PICTURE OF TWIN FALLS TEMPLE

I thought you might enjoy this picture. It was taken on Christmas Eve, 2008. It was just starting to snow.
This is my favorite place. I substitute often. My regular shift is Friday mid shift-during the day.
I have sub. on every day except Tuesday. I have sub. on Saturday early morning shift and soon Thursday early morning shift-6:00a.m. I have sub. on Friday late shift-to closing. I have sub. on Wednesday & Thursday mid shift.
The Counselors wife says she's going to put a bed in the Temple for me.

NEW LOOK

Well, I guess you can see that I have a new look. I'm not satisfied with this. I'm still looking for the perfect one. This one will do until, I find the perfect one -and also smart enough to get it. I'm not as talented as Lyndsay is and take elements from others to make one.
Today, Rick surprised me by helping to put up all of the outside Christmas lights. That usually ends up being only my job. My body is so wore out anymore, it's geting very hard to do the "physical" stuff. I'm just about to the point of not putting them up very much longer. However, if Rick helps, then I will continue to put them up each year and enjoy them. THANKS RICK FOR THE EFFORT TODAY!

Christmas Lights from our house and Chocolate Pie Recipe

Some Christmas sights from our house for your enjoyment.



Our candy canes are actually red this year. We also have a flood light on the manger-so you can see them better. This year, we also don't have the extra lights in the trees.

Here's my traditional Chocolate Cream Pie recipe-improved thru the years.

2 or 3 pkgs. of 8 oz. cream cheese 1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups sugar 2-3 lg. tubs of Cool Whip
1 cup cocoa powder 3 teaspoons of vanilla
6-10 cooked pie crusts. Grated semi-sweet chocolate chips or candy bar

Combine cream cheese, sugar, & vanilla in lg. mixing bowl. Add cocoa alternately with milk, beating until smooth. Gradually add & fold in Cool Whip until well combined. Pour or scoop into pie shells quickly. The more cream cheese you use, the quicker it sets up. However, I prefer the more cream cheese. Garnish with grated semi-sweet chocolate chips. Freeze until ready to serve. (Stephanie prefers to let it thaw a little before serving.) Depending on how full you make the pies, you may or may not have leftover filling. If you do, just freeze it-for more pies later.

Our Christmas traditions: peanut clusters and my chocolate cream pie.

SOME FAMILY PICTURES & CATCHING UP.

Well, it's been quite awhile since I posted anything new. I finshed work in mid-October. Life is really busy. I'm trying to get ready for the holidays now. I'm going to post some pictures and let you catch up with our family.

Tyler, "Bekha", & Jacob
These are Heather's kids. Tyler is 10 years old. He loves riding our 4 wheeler and his own motorcycle. He's in the 6th grade and was in football this fall. He is Bonka's guy. "Bekha" is 8 years old. She has enjoyed dancing the last few years. She's pretty good at it. She's a "girly" girl. Howeve, she surprised me. This next summer, she wants to play baseball. Jacob is 6 years old. He's quite mischievious. He's grandma's guy.

Stephanie's kids, Arianna, "Mady", & "Kenna"
The group picture of Stephanie's kids was taken in the summer sometime. Traci, Jacob, Kari, Arianna, "Kenna" & "Mady". They don't get many times when all of the kids are there at the same time. Arianna is in the 8th grade. This is her first day of school picture. She's had another knee surgery. This was her good knee. She's doing good. This is "Mady's" first day of school picture also. Don't you just love her smile? She was asked to participate in a drug-free "to do" for the whole state of Idaho. She was the only one asked out of her school. The governor spoke at this function. I didn't get to watch her, because it was a Friday. Rick went with his parents. They said the audience loved her the best. Maybe, that's because she had her talk mostly memorized and her great smile. "Kenna" and daddy are going to her first day of school also (Pre-school) . She is pretty independent and starting to be quite the shatter box. The problem is that I can't understand everything she says. She calls us sometimes, just to talk.

This was taken the first part of November. They are Stephanie's step-kids. Traci, Kari, & Jacob. Kari also had a knee surgery. She is doing very well and is a sophmore in High School. Traci is in volleyball and is trying our for the "Jump" acting production that goes on every year for the kids in Magic Valley. She was in it once before. Jacob just continues to get taller.

Heather & Stephanie's brother and his wife (Andy & Stacy) came down for an early Thanksgiving visit. They were here for almost a week. We were invited to a family gathering to spend some time with them. They're a cute couple. They live in California. Andy is in a band. He is the lead singer. Both of them work for her relatives in construction.

Well, I've been substituting in the Temple on a pretty regular basis-besides my own shift. I substiture on Friday evenings after working all day on Friday. I substitute on Thursday days also. That's fun, but time consuming.

There is a chance that Rick may get to work at the Recommend Desk soon. He's on the list 2 times and the guy in charge of recruiting others works on my shift. My friend visited with the President of theTemple about getting Rick on. The President said that Rick needs to make an effort to go to the Temple on a regular basis. That's how they pick the new ones. We did go to the Temple this last week. An older couple in our ward that has been married for 30 years were sealed. Rick was his escort. That's the first time I got Rick to the Temple in almost 2 years. His depression has gotten extremely worse in the last 2 years. It's hard to get him out of the house anymore. If he gets to work at the Recommend desk, that would be such a great "lift" to both of us.

I just got put into the Primary Presidency. I've been the President once before. I've been the 1st Counselor twice and the Secretary once. This time, I am the 2nd Counselor. I'm a little intimidated. I've never been over the older kids. I'm not real excited about being in charge of the scouts. I keep reminding myself what the Temple President says: "Those that are called, become qualified." I guess that's what Heavenly Father wants me to do. I conducted the opening exercises yesterday-our first day. Luckily, I don't have to to Sharing Time until the first Sunday in December. Maybe by then, I'll feel more comfortable in this new calling.

SOME CATCHING UP.

Well it's been at least 3 weeks since I've added anything. That's because I'm working Seneca (Green Giant). I work 6 days a week 10-12 hours a day. The 7th day of the week, I serve at the Temple. Not much time to do anything else. When I get done with work, I'll try to post some pictures.
It's so-o- o nice to be serving in the Temple again. Mostly, I have been serving in Iniatory. That is where my heart is. I hope to be able to at least experience the other assignments since it's a brand new Temple. I will in time. It's nice not traveling 2 hours to the Temple and 2 hours to drive back home. The Temple has been full most of the time since it opened. It has even added extra chairs for the sessions for the first 3 months. Most of them have also been full. That's great.
All of my grandkids have started school. Stephanie's oldest (Mike's oldest) is in high school. Stephanie's oldest of her own should be in high school except she was held back one year because of her having a knee surgery. Stephanie's youngest-Kennedi started pre-school this year. The rest of Stephanie's kids are stretched out in between the ones that I mentioned. Heather's oldest-Tyler is in the 6th grade this year and had his first football game this last Saturday. Heather's youngest -Jacob started 1st grade this year. I guess with all of my grandkids in school, that makes me getting old.
Rick is always fighting his depression-(our whole married life). At times it gets slightly better. That always helps.
We've taken our 4 wheelers out 4 times this summer. We're getting better an learning how to steer them. They are still harder to steer than out motorcycles were. It's been fun doing something.
Talk to you later. 4:30 a.m. comes early.