PAIN IS NOT FUN !  I tolerate pain better than many people.  Well last Tuesday, I was putting dishes in the dishwasher. My back went out. I couldn't move and I was in a lot of pain. I told Rick that if it didn't go away, I would not be going with him to our Temple assignment that night.
Rick brought me a chair and I set in the kitchen for awhile. I could tell the pain wasn't going away. I decided that if I was going to be setting, I might as well be watching t.v. I managed to get in the front room. Rick gave me an ice pack and thankfully, we had some pain pills. I didn't go to the Temple assignment. (Rick's mom went with him.) Wednesday was slightly better. I forced myself to go to my Primary Presidency meeting in the the evening. Thursday, I had an appointment with Mom's Care Center--(quarterly family review). I really wanted to cancel the meeting because the pain was terrible, but I didn't. The pain continued to get worse during the day. By the time I got home on Thursday afternoon, I was in excrutiating pain--probably the worst that I've felt in 10-12 years. I doubled up on the pain medicine. Friday, I felt a little better and was able to serve in the Temple. (I did temporarily get sick - I guess from too much pain and medication.) Thankfully, Heavenly Father allowed me to feel fairly well during the day at the Temple. As soon as I finished, I started hurting again. Saturday, I hurt more. Now the pain is moving down my leg. Thankfully, I felt better somewhat for Sunday and that allowed me to do my Sunday responsibilities. Today, my back is better than it was on Thursday-not well-but better. The muscle in my leg feels like it's about 4 inches too short. I AM GETTING AN ADJUSTMENT TODAY ! ! I'M REALY EXCITED ABOUT THE APPOIINTMENT. To be excited about going to the dr.--something must truly be wrong! When I talked to the Dr. this morning, he said that his initial diagnosis was that I'm allergic to doing dishes and asked if I wanted a prescription for that.

 This is a HUGE post of lots of misc. picturesfrom the last 1/2 year or so.

This is Heather's daughter-"Bekha"

Softball   2010





"Bekha" at bat.












Bekha out in field-softball-2010



Heather's oldest son-Tyler
pitching in baseball-2010
He's good, but gets nervous.



Tyler loves to steal bases. 
Most of the time, he succeeds.




Tyler batting.  Often, he hits
 homeruns and is voted the
 most valuable player.
He has potential.

 

Heather's youngest son- Jacob.
It reminded Alan when we were growing up.

 

Jacob posing for a picture.  2010

 



 

Another picture of Jacob as catcher
June 2010

      Heather's kids did pretty good in baseball this summer.  I believe Bekha's team got 2nd place. It was kind of a surprise. Jacob's team is still too young to go very far, but improved a lot.  Tyler's team had a very good chance at getting first place.  They had gotten themselves in the tournament as one of the favorites.  Then, their coach got irritated (at the tournaments) and was thrown out of the game.  The boys went in a spiral downfall after that.



Sunset coming home from baseball
in Filer-early evening-2010.



Another Sunset picture from the
same evening in 2010.




   



Stephanie's daughter-Mady
in drama class O'leary Jr. High 2010
Mady is the one with a blond wig
over dark hair with a huge smile.



Another picture of Mady.







  

This is Mady's 3rd year playing the viola.
I can actually hear improvements now.





A better picture of Mady
takeing her "bow" in Oct.  2010.

        




  

Thanksgiviing 2010

Twin Falls Care Center

My twin brothers and Mom
Terry & Jerry  and; Helen Bodily




Thanksgiving 2010
Terry, Jerry, Diane and; Mom

  


Stephanie's youngest daughter Kennedi
"Kenna" and friend and cousin on 6th b-day Dec.2nd  2010


 

Kenna and friend

 

Heather's youngest son-by the coach-Jacob at his basketball
tournaments in Dec. 2010.  His team got 2nd place.



Jacob's team picture at tournaments--Dec.  2010




                

Stephanie's family made mom a
Christmas present.  Mom is
opeing it right here.

    
 

Stephanie and; Mom enjoying the present.

                                                                              

  

I love this picture!
Stephanie, Rick, Arianna, "Kenna" and Mom

 
 

Mom at our house on Christmas Eve
Grant, and the twins came also.



As of last Thursday-October 21st, 2010-I am officially retired.  the company that I have worked at for 29 years (Green Giant/Seneca Foods) is downsizing.  They will no longer can corn in our area.  They will freeze corn and peas.  Half of the regulars were informed on Oct. 1st that their jobs were eliminated at the end of this year.    Since my job dealt with  "canned corn", my job is one the the eliminated.   I'm a seasonal worker instead of a year-round worker.  That means there is no severance pay-just a big Thank You for all of my years of service.  Yes, I probably could get hired for next year.  If I did, it would be dirtier and harder.  I'm too old for that.  Since Heavenly Father allowed a miracle to happen over a course of many years, (our house will be paid for very soon), I choose not to go back to work.
We now have a car ! !  Heavenly Father directed us to a car that we can afford and like.  We found a 2003 Buick Century.  It has 100,000 miles less than our old car and is 6 years newer.  The payments are affordable and it will be paid for in 3 years.  However, you won't recognize us when you see us.  It is not red.  It's listed as bronze.  Rick calls it our chameleon.  It changes colors with different lighting on it.  Sometimes it looks bronze, grey, or silver all with tints of green, purple, and brown added.  Thank Heavens for personalized license plates.  It looks smaller on the outside, but almost the same size inside.  It still has 6 seat-belts, and even has a larger trunk.  Thanks Heavenly Father for always blessing us with what is right for us ! ! !

IT NEVER FAILS.
Just when it starts to look like "things" are getting better, than something else happens. Our car pretty well died lastnight. The transmisssion went out. Thankfully, we have roadside assistance on our insurance. that paid for a wrecker to take the car home. (I was at the Temple when it died.) Also thankfully a family member is spending at least the next 9 months in Switzerland. We can use their car for awhile- until we decide what to do. Our car has 198,000 miles on. We don't know if it's worth getting a new transmission or if we try to get a different car. We don't know how long the engine will last-although, the engine was pretty well reworked 2 years ago when it died. I know Heavenly Father will watch over us. He always does.

This last month in Primary-(church-for those of you who don't know), we learned that Jesus is a God of Miracles and the miracles continue to happen in our time because of our faith.  I want to share with you a miracle in my life.  For about 10-15 years, I've heard that many jobs-mine included-will be eliminated.  I've been asking Heavenly Father to not let that happen until we could afford for me not to work.  Well, the miracle happened this year.  Just about a month ago, I found out that this year will be my last year because the jobs are being eliminated for sure.  In fact, usually I've been working about 4-6 weeks by this time of year.  I've only worked 1 day so far this year.  The Miracle is this:  Our house will be paid for this year.  We owe less than $3,000 on our house.  Heavenly Father allowed my job to continue as long as we needed it. Thanks Heavenly Father for always watching over us and blessing us according to our needs!  It definitely is a Faith Builder when we can see that you are taking care of us.
I probably won't be posting much for awhile.  It is time that I'm working most of the time-as soon as the corn gets ready.  After work, I'll try to get caught up.  I need to post other pictures when I get caught up.

We went 4-wheeling last week in the South Hills, (in Idaho-for those of you that don't know where the South Hills are.)  It is very rare to see these animals up there.  I'm grateful that I had a camera.  I wish that I had my better camera because they are not great pictures.  In fact, when I took the color out of them-they turned out better.  We saw 2 bull moose and 1 cow moose near Porcupine Springs Campground.  I just had to post the pictures.  Hope you can see them since the pictures didn't turn out great.  8-26-2010

 I really liked this picture the best.

Self explanatory -I wish it was better quality.

The cow was running up hill. 
Other riders in the area, said that they saw the cow
and calf walk thru their campground earlier in the morning.
We did not see the calf.

I inherited the responsibility of being the high council companion speaker in Sacrament Meeting when I became Primary President. I want to thank Stephanie and her husband, Mike, for making the effort to come to our church that day to support me. Rick's mom came also. I'm going to post the talk-most of it-just because I want it for posterity. I like the idea of most of my talks being written done for others to have the opportunity to read.  --- I gave the talk on the 15th of August.  I'm just getting around to posting it.

ACT IN DILIGENCE
My assignment was to talk about President Eyring’s talk from the 2010 April Conference to the Priesthood Session. The title is: ACT IN DILIGENCE. President Eyring was inspired to talk about this subject because of the new booklets prepared by the church for the My Duty to God program. In reading these booklets, he realized they were describing what President Brigham Young had promised many years ago. President Young said, “to those that are diligent over a lifetime, and continues faithful to his or her calling, who delights in doing the things God requires, will secure for their selves not only the privilege of receiving, but the knowledge of how to receive the things of God”.---I looked up the word diligence in the dictionary. It is: hard working, putting care and effort into what one does. That goes right along with the information that President Eyring got out of the Duty to God booklet. President Eyring said that we are to learn what the Lord expects of us, make a plan to do it, then, act on that plan with all diligence. DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS SECTION 75 : 29 Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the church, except he repent and mend his ways.
I decided to go directly to the Duty to God booklet for information. The very first page has a message from the 1st Presidency of the church. They said that we live in a world of great challenges and opportunities. Heavenly Father has great confidence & trust in us & has important missions or responsibilities for us to fulfill. They said that as we turn to Him in prayer, listen for the promptings of the spirit, obey the commandments, and keep the covenants that we have made; Heavenly Father will bless us. In D&C 84:33-38, the Lord promises that if we fulfill our duties, we will be sanctified by the Spirit.
President Eyring mentioned that all of us know people that serve with diligence. He too, knows people that have served diligently. Because of their example, he has learned and wants us to know what he has learned. He has come to an understanding that we must learn who we are truly serving. In all truthfulness, we are serving Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ. When that is embedded in our hearts, that’s when we will begin to serve with diligence. President Eyring said we are to learn our duty from the Lord, and then we are to act in all diligence, never being lazy or slothful. Yes, there will be times when we will be tempted to rest from our labors. Sometimes when we come home tired, it may be easier to set down and watch T.V. instead of going to Mutual or the Primary activity or making the appointments that we were supposed to do. Sometime it may be easier to stay home instead of going to the Ward Activity that you’re in charge of. When we are tempted to rest from our labors, we need to remember what the Savior experienced on our behalf. Out of love for His Father and for us, He allowed Himself to suffer on the cross. None of us truly know the agony that He experienced there, but can imagine how bad it was for Him. The Savior’s example gives us courage to press on. He knew we would have trials. He knows our weaknesses and yet, He still trusts us. By our faithful service and through His Atonement, we can come to want what He wants and to become the person that we must be -to bless other people. The Savior taught His disciples, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:24). President Monson believes the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others, grow and flourish—and in effect, save their lives." As we serve the Savior long enough and with diligence, our hearts will be changed. As we remember Him, we will be determined to perform our duties to the best of our abilities. That can become a pattern in our life that will increase our power to be diligent in every duty given to us.
For some time now, Rick’s mom has had the responsibility or calling to be the greeter at church. She enjoys her calling. She shakes their hands, asks how they are and sometimes even gives hugs. She makes them feel welcome. I know she makes every effort to be the best greeter she can be. She goes out of her way to do the very best she can.
Some of us have larger responsibilities than others. Does that mean that the rest of us do not have to act with diligence? No, it doesn’t. We can be diligent in obeying the commandments. We can be diligent in being a good example to our friends. We can be diligent in being reverent in Sacrament meeting so others may feel the Spirit. We can be diligent in studying the scriptures. Whatever we’ve been asked to do, we can and should be diligent. All of us should put forth our best efforts in the work assigned to us. No assignment is too small in the eyes of the Lord, for each has eternal consequences. DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS SECTION 75:3 Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your might— President John Taylor warned us, “If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved if had you done your duty”.--(D&C 58:6.) -- Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you—that you might be obedient,…I believe there should be consistent daily effort by every one of us. We should lengthen our stride and quicken our pace and try harder to do our duty diligently. We should make a renewed effort in doing our very best.
In 1989, President Hinckley was speaking to another Priesthood Session of Conference. He repeated the Scout oath: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout law, to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Then, he slightly changed it for the purpose of that meeting. I too, will slightly change it. “On my honor I will do my best to magnify whatever calling or duty I receive and serve diligently.” President Hinckley said that he understood the word magnify to mean enlarge and to strengthen. ----All of us have the responsibility of magnifying our duties. We are responsible for the welfare and the growth and development of other people. As we serve or fulfill our duties with diligence, we lift and strengthen and build convictions of righteousness in those whose lives we touch. To give less than our best effort to our duties, takes away from what God wants for us. Duty does not require perfection, but it does require diligence. Fulfilling our duties with diligence is a test of our faith.
I’ll finish with a scripture that President Eyring included in his talk.
D&C 107:99-100 says: Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved-shall not be counted worthy to stand.

PRIMARY PRESIDENT!

Yesterday, I was sustained as the new Primary President in my Ward. I know it will work out, but it's really bad timing for my life right now. This is the time of year that very soon I will be working 6 days a week, 10-12 hours a day. My Bishop said they told the Lord that I can't do this right now. Basically, the Lord said, "So". So, the Bishop reminded the Lord that I can't do this. Again, the Lord basically said, "SO". So, the Bishop asked me 3 weeks ago. I asked what to do. He said just get good counselors that can help me. I submitted 2 names. One accepted-1st Counselor. The other turned the opportunity down. Then, I had to pray for more guideance. I Submitted 2 more names. The Bishop turned down one name and then told me to pray about someone else. I did and still got the same impression of the first sister. All of us were set apart as the new Primary Presidnecy yesterday.
The 15th of August is probably the last day that I will be able to go to church until after work in October. I need to get all my "ducks" in a row before then. To add to the stress, I also got assigned to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting on the 15th-as Primary President.
THANKS HEAVENLY FATHER FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME! I WILL DO MY BEST EFFORT.

Copied from L.D.S. Young Single Adult Gems:  Posted: 14 Jul 2010 12:00 AM PDT
“Everyone needs good friends. Your circle of friends will greatly influence your thinking and behavior, just as you will theirs. When you share common values with your friends, you can strengthen and encourage each other.”
Thomas S. Monson, “Preparation Brings Blessings,” Ensign, May 2010, 65

This last Wednesday, I officially had the opportunity to perform all of the ordinances in the Temple-speaking the Spanish language. Heavenly Father has blessed me to learn this work in a different language than what I speak, so that I can help others. I'm grateful for that. I have to sub on the Spanish night, because I don't get the oppotunity on my shift.
This last Saturday, we had the honor to attend the Boise Temple with my brother's family. (Gary's family) His youngest son-Kevin, got his Endowment - preparing to go on his mission. All of Gary & Debbie's kids and most of their kids' spouses were able to attend. The Prayer Circle was great. It was all family with the exception of one couple. (I'm not sure if Gary & Debbie knew them or not.) Rick & I were in the Prayer Circle with them. The look on Gary & Debbie's faces were wonderful. You coudn't pay them to look more proud and happy. It was a great moment to be a part of.
I had to give Sharing Time this last Sunday. Sharing Times are difficult for me. I honestly didn't feel prepared. I just did what was suggested in the Sharing Time phamplet that the church provides. This morning, I got an e-mail from one of my teachers-telling me that I did a good job. The following is copied from her letter to me: By the way, the sharing time activity you did today really involved the kids. They liked stapling the links together to make the chain. Good Job!
I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father continues to bless us -daily. Life is good, even when you have trials.