Beneath the Wraps

The "Service Engine" light came on in the car.  I took the car to the mechanic's downtown.  I told Jenna we would walk around downtown while Mike looked at the car.  Today is Vietnam Veteran's Day, and even though it was raining, the flags were up and the first picture I took was this one. I didn't have my camera.  My cell phone made the images appear a lot darker than I think it really was.  I tried to fix them in the computer, but my efforts only seemed to make it worse.  Just 17 months ago, I had gone downtown with Jenna for trick-or-treating.  There were a lot more vacant buildings then than what I found today.  I was surprised to find so many businesses open before 10:00 (if at all) but we did find some that were closed and some that were vacant Jenna kept on making faces at me each time I would lift the phone I don't know if Rice Brothers and Adams was founded in 1915 or just the building was. I t...

            Jenna decided she would give the lesson in Family Home Evening Last night.   She lined up three of her bears at the edge of the table and gave the lesson on the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25.             The lesson itself brought up fond memories as I reminisced over other times when the parable was discussed.             During a sacrament meeting in Martinsville, three of us had been assigned to talk on each of the parables found in Matthew 25.   My missionary companion had given the parable of the talents - describing three woman in detail and what talents they'd been given.   I don't recall what each of the talents were except for the one who received two talents was the only one in the ward who could do macramé and the sister who was given only one talen...

        Jordan and Tawnya Ewing moved into the ward about eight months ago.   They have four children which make up about a fourth of the primary.   I don't think Tawnya was snagged into the primary quite as quickly as I had been. She teaches the CTR class which is the smaller of the two.   Her older three are Valiants.         I continue to look at the manual even since Danny announced her return with her/our primary class.   In the beginning I was more diligent about how I studied, but only read last week's lesson and was not prepared to teach in the event that Danny didn't show up.         When I walked into the primary room, nine chairs had been set up, but only four students were present.   Bess announced that Tawnya had not showed and I asked her if she wanted to combine the two classes.   But then Danny showed up and I volunteered to take ...

           Imagine your childhood.   What did you dream about?   Becoming a firefighter? ballerina?   traveling through space?   Imagine what your interest was when you were in your teens?   Did you set goals for a particular profession?   Did you develop a talent such as dancing or playing the piano?   Did you learn skills that would steer you in the direction that you were seeking to go?   How did you get there?   What do you do?   Did you fulfill your dream?   or did you settle?               Let's just say (for example) that you may have studied the stars and dreamed about traveling through space. You studied science.   You didn't apply to work at NASA for whatever reason.   Instead, you became a teacher.   You love your students.   You love sharing your knowle...

            I was late getting to the next class called "YW are Essential Participants".   I sat in the back - uncomfortable in the folding chairs provided.   I don't think it would have been so bad if there had been any amount of elbow room.   I felt like if I had taken notes, I would have ribbed the sister sitting next to me.              What is up with the RS chairs having to be smashed so close together that there is absolutely no breathing room?   Who's idea was that?   Don't the people who set up chairs realize that there are several overweight sisters who might enjoy having a space larger than even elbow room would allow?   I think I would have found more elbow room in a refrigerator box. I was actually quite uncomfortable about the seating arrangement for the most part.   I have made it no secret that I enjoy having space.   I...