I DON'T REALLY SPEAK SPANISH.--- TUESDAY SUBBING FINISHED.

The Spanish Branch is combined into our ward.  We have joint Primary and Relief Society (translators in Relief Society).  This last Sunday, as we were getting ready to leave church.  Relief Society was just getting over.  The Spanish Sister that I had in Initiatory 2 weeks ago, that didn't speak English, saw me.  We both hugged.  I must have done o.k. a few weeks ago with my Spanish.  The reason:  she started talking to me in Spanish.  The only things that I understood was that she asked me how I was and she told me hello.  I responded back in Spanish to the 2 things that I understood.  However, I couldn't actually talk to her in Spanish.  She must have thought that I actually knew Spanish-instead of just the Temple Ordinances.  She was with a young gal that I have worked with at Green Giant.  She's investigating the church, but comes all of the time.  I imagine after I left, my friend from work told the older sister that I don't speak Spanish and the older lady was saying that I did.  Cute situation.
Well,  last week-Tuesday- was my last day for " regular" subbing at the Temple.  I've been officially subbing on Tuesdays since the second week of December for 2 different ladies.  I received a call from the Shift Coordinator yesterday, saying that the one sister thinks she's ready to go back to the Temple today.  I will miss being there.  It's been long enough, that they feel like my shift also.  However, it does seem nice to have some extra time at home.  Now, I will just sub whenever people call me-which is still often.
Oh, let me tell you a neat story that someone told me last week in the Temple break room.  It was someone eles's story being retold to me, but true.  I'm not sure when the story actually happened.  Their  story started 13 years earlier.  Their son had left the church and didn't have anything to do with them.  They had not even seen him in 13 years.  13 years later, they decided that they wanted to go on a mission.  They put their papers in and specifically stated that they didn't want a proselyting mission because they were too old.  They received their papers for a proselyting mission for a particular town in Florida.  They asked their Bishop to resubmit their papers.   He did.  They got a new call.  It was for the EXACT SAME MISSION-SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.  They went - heavy hearted.  The  first week they sat in their apartment doing nothing.   The next week, they realized that they couldn't spend the next 18 months inside their apartment.  They decided to get in their car and get a feel of the land and feel more comfortable with their surroundings.  THE VERY FIRST DOOR THEY KNOCKED ON, WAS THE DOOR OF THEIR SON THAT THEY HADN'T SEEN IN 13 YEARS.  IT WAS FATE.  IT WAS AN ANSWER TO MANY PRAYERS.   IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE HE CAME BACK TO THE CHURCH AND THE PARENTS AND SON HAD RESTORED THEIR FAMILY RELATIONS!

TIME: PRODUCTIVE OR NOT PRODUCTIVE

I wish Rick would get out of the house once in awhile. All he ever does is just sleep. I wake him up to eat and also to go to bed. What a life! He did leave the house to buy me a Valentines's Card after he was shamed into it. That doesn't make it very fun for me.

On the bright side of things: 3 weeks ago on Saturday, I made me a new Temple bag. Last Saturday, I got caught up on some mending. Today, I almost finished sewing a new skirt to wear at the Temple. Maybe, I'll post pictures of them soon.

MOM'S BIRTHDAY

A quick post about Mom's birthday yesterday. She had a pleasant day. Friends of Dad & Mom's came from Blackfoot and spent about 1 and 1/2 hours. (Devon & Ila Kofoed) That was the only reason they came. They had called me a few days earlier and said that Mom had been on their minds a lot and thought they should make a visit.
Just as I got to the Care Center, Grant and the twins parked right beside me. The friends left before lunch. The rest of us spent most of the day together. We stayed until around 3:00. Mom just didn't want us to leave. She recieved cards and letters from those that couldn't visit. I shared some family pictures off of your blogs with her. I didn't get all of them printed up in time. She enjoyed seeing how everyone is doing.
By the time we left, she was getting tired. Her friend that took Misty as her dog, gave her a picture of Mom and Misty that was taken just the day before. I'll try to share it with you sometime. It was a pretty good picture.

STEPHANIE'S LIFE JUST GOT MORE INTENSE.

Stephanie called a few days ago. Her oldest step-daughter contacted her and said that she was tired of her real mom getting drunk. Kari said she was moving back in with Mike & Stephanie. Jacob is already living with them because their real mom can't (or won't) handle him. I beieve from the conversation with Stephanie, the one daughter that hasn't had much to do with Mike & Stephanie for quite awhile will also be moving into their home. Stephanie is pretty stressed out. I told her that she was strong enough to do this. I reminded her that in the long run, it will be worth it. She knows that I'm speaking from experience because of me being her step-mom. We have such a good relationship. Having her also be a step-mom has brought us much closer. She appreciates everything that I did for them as they were growing up.

RED LETTER DAY ! ! !

I've been subbing at the Temple on Tuesdays since December 8th (for 2 different sisters). The Coordinator always lets me go home an hour early. When I was doing the Veil at 3:00, the Coordinator mentioned that 2 Spanish sisters had come in to do Initiatory. She said that she might change my assignment after the Veil. When I finished, the Initiatory Coordinator said she didn't need me. So I did another assignment for awhile, but I said I'd check back. About 15 minutes later, I went back. She put me in the booth with the 2 Spanish Sisters. None of the Ordinance Workers on this shift knows the dialogue in Spanish. they were performing the work in English. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO EACH BOOTH-SPEAKING SPANISH. Since this was my first time truly doing it-all 3 booths, I did stumble a few times and had to look at my card. However, the more that I did it, the better that I got. I WAS ABLE TO DO EACH BOOTH ABOUT 3 TIMES IN SPANISH. Later, I had an English speaking sister come in. I did 2 Spanish sisters in each booth and 1 English sister. That was good experience. So much for going home early. I stayed the full hour and enjoyed every bit of it. One sister didn't speak English very well. The other one did. The both told me that they loved me, hugged me and thanked me for learning it in their language. The one that did speak English, said she could understand me. I'm sure the other one did also because of the way she acted. Gratifying! Thanks Heavenly Father !

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!