AdSense and OTHER STUFF

I've decided to remove the AdSense from my blog. IT never generated any income in around a month. I don't like it on my site anyhow. It just clutters it up. I did leave the search engine on it.

Both of our girls' families are struggling with finances right now. Both families are currently collecting Unemployment I wish I could make things better for them. Looking on the bright side of things, I believe Heather's husband collects quite a lot.. Also, Stephanie has a good part-time job. Her boss is terrific! She knows that family is important and also very understanding of Stephnaie's feelings. Just last week, she left the office for a short time and came back with a lovely card of encouragement and a book to give to Stephanie. Thank You Heavenly Father for small blessings that come naturally.
Yesterday was a great day at church. I worried over my Sharing Time-like I always do. My Presidency members always tell me not to worry about them-just do what is in the outline. I know that, but it doesn't stop me from worrying. (Preparing Sharing Times have always been difficult for me). I had no reason to really worry. I believe it was one of my very best Sharing Times!
Thanks again Heavenly Father for always being aware of our needs.

I'll finish with my quote for the day.
LIVE YOUR TESTIMONY.
‘That which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do’ (D&C 46:7). Our testimony of gospel truth should be reflected both in our words and in our deeds.... We should both create and look for opportunities to bear testimony of gospel truths—and live them.”
David A. Bednar--Ensign, Nov. 2009, 19

PROMPTINGS OF THE HOLY GHOST.

Last Sunday, I had to conduct the opening exercises in Primary. Earlier in the month, I had already talked about the lessons that were in the Children's Friend magazine. With January having 5 Sundays in the month, I was sort of hurting for something to talk about. I read a few stories out of the The New Era magazine-trying to get some ideas. I'm so-o-o glad that I listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost-to read them. When I got to Primary, I found out that no one was prepared to give talks that day. That meant that I had some extra time to take up. I shared with my Primary the true stories that I'd read out of the New Era that morning. Heavenly Father is aware of our needs even when it doesn't seem necessary. (Normally, we have 2 kids giving talks on Sundays. That takes up the extra time.) Thank You Heavenly Father.

This quote is very fitting for what I just wrote.

Topics: Holy Ghost
“Because the Spirit is often described as a still, small voice, it is also important to have a time of quiet in our lives as well. The Lord has counseled us to ‘be still, and know that I am God.’ If we provide a still and quiet time each day when we are not bombarded by television, computer, video games, or personal electronic devices, we allow that still, small voice an opportunity to provide personal revelation and to whisper sweet guidance, reassurance, and comfort to us.”

Vicki F. Matsumori - “Helping Others Recognize the Whisperings of the Spirit,”  -Ensign, Nov. 2009, 11

WHAT IS LOVE?

A Loving Family Requires Selflessness
Just as Jesus used a child in His mortal ministry as an example for the people of the pure love they must and could have to be like Him, He has offered us the family as an example of an ideal setting in which we can learn how to love as He loves. That is because the greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. THE JOYS COME FROM PUTTING THE WELFARE OF OTHERS ABOVE OUR OWN. THAT IS WHAT LOVE IS."
Henry B. Eyring: Our Perfect Example -from the Ensign, Nov. 2009, 70-71
(I thought I'd ad a good thought (from the Church) often-even if I don't hwrite anything about my family.)

An uppdate on Rick: Things are looking better. I can't say tremendously, but improved. He had a visit with our Bishop a few weeks ago. He's making the effort that Bishop advised him to do. Both of us can see a difference. How grateful we are that Heavenly Father loves us enough to have good leaders over us-to inspire us, to comfort us. Thanks Heavenly Father for always being there for us.

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.