Tapering Off With "Come Follow Me"

When the “Come Follow Me” program was announced last year, it was also announced that our Sunday church meetings would go from three hours down to two but that we, as members, were still responsible for filling that third hour on our own and were provided with a manual – one per family.  Jenna and I both predicted that many, though may have started out with great intentions, would not keep on their studies on their own.

          As the program was new to all of us, I thought our family could invite others to learn with us and we could all struggle through it together.  Not that going through the scriptures is a struggle.  I had taught the youth when the Church did away with traditional manuals and so had a familiarity – the trying to learn it without instruction seemed a little more trying. 

          I felt inspired to invite families or individuals to learn with us.  Trying to squeeze dinner in at the same time was NOT a good idea as my focus was on the learning part whereas Roland seemed to be more interested in the food part. 

          Meanwhile I had purchased notebooks for those who might not have.  My intention was to sit down together and learn things at the same time – well, sort of.  Jenna and I had continued to go through the scriptures and manual first thing after we came home from church.  Roland did not participate with us as he was still at the church fulfilling his clerical calling.

          “Dinner’s ready,” he announced before we had an opportunity to study or discuss.  We hadn’t communicated how we had wanted to present ourselves.  We hadn’t prayed about who we should invite.  We had more people than we did seats at the table.  It didn’t turn out as I had hoped.  There was no discussion.

          From then on I prayed about who we should invite.  I encouraged Roland to pray about this decision in his personal prayers as well as our family prayer.  We went to the home of a widow and had a really great discussion with her.  Every other appointment we had attempted had fallen through.  Eventually so did our efforts to make connections.  Too bad.

          Jenna and I would still continue to read scriptures and go through the manual.  

          I don’t when one of the counselors in RS posted a link to Emily Freeman/David Butler videos (found here) gradually I allowed the video to replace my efforts of setting up appointments with other members.  Jenna and I would return from church and watch the videos.  Sometimes I would print out the study sheet to pass out to my primary class.  I started to slide though when it was Danny’s turn to teach. 

          If I did miss a week, I would watch the missed video the following week in addition to the current week – which I tried to do this week as I missed last week.  I realize I’ve become dependant on the videos and a lot lax on the manual.  I’m always embarrassed to find the bookmark in a spot more than six weeks back.

          On Friday I watched this video followed by the one for first and second Peter.  I took notes on the video for James.  Loved it. I always get more out of presentations if I take notes.  I did not take notes for “Peter’s” part.  I tried watching again later on.  Still, nothing resonated with me.  Yesterday morning I watched it again.  I was in the other room and did not have access to any of my notebooks.  Still nothing.

          Usually, when “Don’t Miss This” video ends, a conference address will automatically play, but yesterday it was followed by this video.  Butler/Freeman videos are not the only video resource for “come follow me” as there are several options.  I got more out of the second video “Teaching with Power”.  I rewatched it after Roland and Jenna got up as I figured Roland would sit through more of it then he does of “Don’t Miss This” – we are two different people.  Videos that usually grab me and Jenna don’t work for him and vice-versa.  He can sit through a monotone documentary.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ – not me.  Jenna and I prefer the animation.

          I was impressed by how much she paid attention and how many correct answers she was able to provide on the questionnaire. 

          When Sunday school started yesterday morning, I could see the questions and scriptural references all had to do with James – and I had brought my notebook.  I figured I’d be able to participate – which I did.  There was more participation yesterday than there had been the time we had met before.

         

          As we wrapped up James, the instructor played a couple of videos and erased the board and rewrote Peter 3:18, 19, and 4:6.  There were also three references for D&C – the last being about 35-40 verses.  I don’t even remember any emphasis being placed on those scriptures in either video – not to say it wasn’t present, I just hadn’t seen it.  In my mind, each of the three messages had been presented differently enough that the three of them together covered more ground as each of them took certain scriptures to dwell on – and there is still so much more.  And I need to reread and study better than I have done.

          I enjoy learning different points of view and what may be meaningful to someone may be overlooked by somebody else.  I enjoy connecting the pieces – or seeing the pieces presented rather so that I may make the connection. 

Dishwasher Safe or Not

When I was younger, I remember mom loading the dishwasher with certain dishes and washing others by hand.  There were some dishes that were marketed as “dishwasher safe” indicating that it could be washed in the dishwasher.  Most dishes were considered not to be dishwasher safe.

Later, things turned around in which all dishes were assumed to be dishwasher safe unless indicated otherwise.  Meanwhile dishwashers seemed to add more safety features and not everything questionable has to be placed on the top.  There are some plastics that can go on the bottom – even if the dishwasher is turned to the “pots and pans” setting.

Some dishes will come with a notice that “needs to be washed by hand” or “not dishwasher safe”.  But those instructions are not always carried over when said items are donated and purchased at second hand stores. 

I don’t know what Jenna’s obsession is with water bottles – Army water bottles in particular.  I thought it had something to do with her brother, Tony, as they had always been so close and he had sent her an Army bear for Christmas one year (see this post) but I have since learned that the memories include going to seminars or fairs and getting items for free.

Army water bottles are not dishwasher safe nor made to last – at least the kind that she has always received.  I was loading the dishwasher when she handed me her newest Army water bottle and asked if I would wash it.  Hand wash it or dishwasher?  Hmm . . . she had handed it to me when the dishwasher was open.  I placed it in the bottom for it was to large to go on top.  I think it would fit on top now as the product seems to be made from shrink wrap.

Not only did it shrink in size, but it is slightly tilted and though the shape of it seems to fit Jenna’s personality (I don’t know that either picture captures how it leans) there is too much gap between the lid and the groves of the bottle that it would leak if it was knocked over (which could easily happen with the shape) She ended up throwing it away and laughed about it.  She really is so good-natured.

I think it was another Army bottle she had that seemed to explode as it hit the ground.  She laughed about that, too, and said she’d be grateful that it happened outside and not inside the school.

Up On the Roof

just before 5:00 p.m.  It gets dark early

Ever since we moved here, I had been hoping to turn the back porch into a game room.  We’ve had contractors come give us estimate but have never gone through.  I don’t know why all of the sudden Roland thinks we can afford it now.

Their trailer remained in our driveway for four days

The first counselor in our bishopric does that sort of work, and had come to our house to give us an estimate, but told Roland it would be wise to get the roof fixed first.  After all, the house was built in 1993 and probably has not had a new roof in all that time.

until they moved it out front 

Granted, this is really not the best time of the year to be roofing.  They started a week ago yesterday.  They had planned to return on Monday to do the skylights but the "storm" came.  The wet weather kept them away on Monday and Tuesday.  We weren't expecting them Wednesday as it is the day before Thanksgiving. Our skylights had been covered in black for almost a week.  I missed them. I think Roland was for getting rid of them – but it really is my favorite part about this funky house. 

you can see our bedroom skylight in this picture

I had not made my bed and had to shake out the bedding after the roofers were done - guess that will teach me to make my bed before allowing someone to open the skylight on my roof.  

debris on our sheets

In the beginning it felt like there was an earthquake going on our roof.  The vibrations knocked a picture off the wall and broke the frame.

the glass did not break, but the frame itself did

The storm passed the entire state of Oregon - at least that's what they said in the news (I personally have not been to the entire state of Oregon) and so they returned yesterday to cover the skylights with the proper material.  We now have skylights again!  And they are better!

the trailer was filled with waste before it got covered

I am grateful for the awesome weather in which the roofers were able to finish.  I am grateful that all of our other pictures and other hanging things remained on the wall.  

Monday and Tuesday weather this week

yesterday morning

Yesterday's Main Meal

Yesterday was Thanksgiving.  We had told those we had invited that dinner would be at 4:00.  Except for the turkey, I think everything was ready to eat at 11:00.  Well, most everything.  Roland had not bothered with the rolls or peas until after Chris arrived – which was shortly before 3:00.

Chris is on of Jenna’s friends from school.  The invitation was extended to Chris’ entire family – but Jenna did not communicate that.  Grandma had already taken the turkey out of the freezer to thaw by the time she got word.  And so it was just the four of us.

I remember having had small Thanksgivings before.  Two years ago we had invited a couple.  And there were only five of us with mom on Thanksgiving Day.  We had had our Thanksgiving dinner on a Saturday when Patrick and Sunny were in town.  There were 18 of us.  But on Thursday it was just my mom, Roland, Jenna, Biff and I.  He had known Jeanie at that point, but they weren’t engaged. There is also one Thanksgiving I remember with just my parents and sibs making only six.

Chris eats like a bird.  Could have been a self conscience thing.  Or perhaps he was planning to eat another Thanksgiving dinner with his own family.  When I learned they probably wouldn’t be here (turned out that his mom was sick and wouldn’t have come even if she had planned on it) I had invited two other couples.  With so little notice that I had given each, I really was not surprised that neither one of them showed.

Meanwhile we’ve got tons of leftover food.  No cooking but only reheating for the next several days.  Roland thought he would try something different this year and fixed the turkey the way Gordon Ramsey had suggested.  Needless to say, I was not impressed – especially with the gravy.  That won’t be the gravy I will be using on the leftovers.

I’m grateful that Chris could come and play a game with the family.  I’m grateful that the “storm” forecast for the entire nation seemed to be clean and (although cold) inviting.  At least that is how it was all across Oregon and New York.  Randy said it was cold there.  They didn’t have snow however.  This may have been a good year to come.  I don’t know that we’ll ever see New York.  I’m not holding my breath.

Kayla had sent me a message that they are used to going to St. George for Thanksgiving, but his mom and dad had gone to California to be with their youngest daughter.  Bill’s older sister had invited them for Thanksgiving dinner. Meanwhile they had invited the mother of Bill’s late wife who had recently lost her husband.  She had cancelled at the last minute and they managed to invite themselves back to his sisters.

I wish we could have spent Thanksgiving with my sister and her family.  In the past we have depended on Bill to eat up the leftovers.  I suppose we’ll have to box everything up and send it to him.  LOL.  It is probably cold enough that it would keep.

I hope that whenever and however you celebrate Thanksgiving that you make it a good one.  I hope that you always have a grateful with each day.

Too Busy To Be Called “Vacation”

            It feels like a Saturday.  I suspect most of the days this week will feel like Saturdays.  On the 21^st my post gives a little detail about my dental experience.  The Novocain wore off eventually – long after the dentist was closed.  I don’t know when I first noticed that my teeth were not feeling right.  Well, two in particular.  Was it the tooth he just worked on?  The bite on the right side of my mouth made contact before anything on my left.  It didn’t hurt but was quite annoying.

            I remember the dentist and his assistant having me bite on a paper and saw off some more.  Wait a minute!  I don’t think I am finished.  Something is sticking up that’s not supposed to.

            That was Wednesday.  I allowed myself to “deal with it” for the next four days and called the dentist yesterday to see if I could get in before my next appointment in January. 

            I don’t know what time I called.  Something was going on.  Rather put me on eternal hold, the receptionist took my name and number and said she would get back to me.  I think it was forty minutes before she got back to me!

            I was pulling out of my driveway as I had a 10:00 meeting.  I wasn’t even trying to get in yesterday.  It was actually NOT a good day for me to try and fit into my schedule. There had been a cancellation for this morning.  Perfect! 

            The meeting could have gone better, I suppose.  Seemed like we got off track a bit.  We do get things accomplished, but never anything on the agenda. When the meeting was over I returned home and ate a sandwich before Jenna, Roland and I went to the school for parent/teacher conference.  Not much to be said as Jenna is a great, wonderful, awesome student and everybody loves her.  No questions.  Just introductions more than anything.

            Next: the Big City of Roseburg.  Jenna wanted to see Frozen II.  We purchased tickets and then went to get something to eat.  Back to the cinema and  then to Costco to pick up Thanksgiving supplies. 

            Roland allowed me to stay in the car and play on my kindle.  Have I mentioned that I really really really really (that’s probably not even enough really) don’t like shopping.  I was even willing to miss out on free samples (if there were any?) and played a few games before Roland and Jenna returned to the car.

            It was probably only 5:00 when we returned, but it always feels later when it’s dark.  Our usual routine: Roland unloaded the car, Jenna brought food into the house, I put away.

            Roland was tired and so I took Jenna with me to the dentist.  I spent an hour in the dentist chair last visit.  I think it was only ten minutes this morning.  The tooth was filed down!  No more grinding!  Evenly chew.  Well sort of.  I have jagged teeth.  Mostly where it can’t be seen. 

            Jenna and I did not return home right away.  We hit a bunch of stores – the same that we can find in Myrtle Creek, but in Winston we could have walked to each of them and stayed parked in one space.  But the weather hasn’t been too friendly the last couple of days – not just here but all across the nation – probably the entire globe as well.  Not a lot of traffic.  I appreciated that.

           

            Roland wanted to do a trial run of the food so that he knows how to time it Thursday.  When Jenna and I returned, “lunch” was ready.  We had Waldorf salad (not a part of my Thanksgiving tradition, but Roland said he really wanted to have some) yams, turkey and stuffing.  I was hungry and enjoyed the food.  I think the stuffing will taste better on Thanksgiving after it’s been inside of the turkey (what we had today was from a boneless breast)

            Roland decided to go to the barber and asked me if I’d like to come along for the ride – just to get out of the house.  He obviously had a nap and maybe hadn’t notice how long I’d been gone.  I’ve been out.  I got wet.  I’ll stay home and create a new post.  I’m good.

            Now he is on his way to purchase three big propanes in case the power does go out again – like it did in February.  It sounds as though blow out before I get this posted.  He is the one that freezes when we don’t have any power.  I am still opening the window (if only a crack) when it’s only 30 degrees outside.  I don’t like the electric heat that is the only source of heat we have to warm our house.

            The hilltops are capped in snow now.  The wind is howling.  I hope it doesn’t blow the shingles off our roof (or whatever else is up there). The elements sound very unforgiving right now.  It’s rare to hear the wind howling as we’ve not heard much of it the entire time we’ve been in Oregon.  We did in Salt Lake.  Don’t miss that at all.

Driving Into the Unknown

         It’s been a number of years since Roland had purchased a suit.  An embarrassing number of years.  We used to go to the Big and Tall or the Men’s Wearhouse to get a proper fitting.  Douglas County doesn’t have the same variety of clothing stores (or any store for that matter) as is offered in the larger cities.

          Roland had seen an ad for Shaquil O’Neal wear at JC Penny.

We had gone to the JC Penny in Roseburg.  Though there was a small selection of suits he could try on, the formation around the shoulders gave one that he had been propped into his suit as a scarecrow hanging from a pole.  We needed something else.

          The clerk had told Roland that Eugene would have a much larger selection.  Thus on Saturday we took the time to make the drive to Eugene.  We drove through fog practically the entire way there. It feels weird having such a limited view of where we are going – having faith that the road will take us to our destination though it feels like we are driving through the unknown.

rest stop mile marker 179

 As we approached Eugene, the fog had cleared and we could see more scenery again.

          I had considered taking my kindle as I really don’t like shopping and it would help pass the time as Roland tried on suits, but I knew I was getting low on battery and did not want to gamble on taking it there and having the battery need charger after only two minutes or so. 

          When Roland told me to hold his phone, I downloaded a game to pass the time.  I don’t know that the variety of suits was any larger at the Eugene store – not in his size.  He is limited.  We did end up with a suit coat and pair of pants and ordered another pair of pants and a vest.  Plus he got two more white shirts. 

          We went to Red Lobster for lunch.  The lobster pizza is fantastic, but I don’t recommend the lobster mashed potatoes.  I didn’t care for the sauce.  I really did enjoy the pizza.

          Afterword we went walked over to the Men’s Wearhouse as Roland wanted a raincoat that would fit over his suit.  Nada. Well, they did have a wool coat.  Wool coat in rain.  Smart.  440 dollars.  No thank you.

          We passed a site called “Good Feet”.  Roland has flat feet and has been hurting.  We were there for maybe 20 minutes as he answered questions and walked in their shoes as opposed to his own shoes.  We did not make a purchase.

          We drove to Springfield so that we could pick up some cables and transmitters at Best Buy and then we started home.  What a long and expensive day!

on the return to Myrtle Creek

Circle Colors

Is it possible that the elements could be so cold that the signal for internet is lost?  The outside has gotten below freezing between 1:00 and 5:00.  Jenna, who has gotten up as early as three (strange child) was trying to sign up on the internet yesterday and was frustrated with it not coming up. If she couldn’t get on her devise (which she would seriously give up for non-electronic entertainment) I wasn’t even going to bother trying mine.  Mine has been having problems ever since Roland received a new updated computer from his work.  It must be sucking up more signal or something.  That isn’t fair.

As Roland was toying with Jenna’s device, I got up and checked the status on the box.  One light was solid green, one light was blinking green.  One light was blinking orange.  The other two were out.  I mentioned that it was probably the internet – and the last time we had encountered that problem it was not so much a household thing – but all of Myrtle Creek had been affected (it must be really great for people living in the sticks).

The TV had been turned to the news.  It would be cold all day in Eugene, so bundle up.  Eugene’s whether doesn’t always mirror Myrtle Creek.  I didn’t figure it would do a lot of good to ask Echo as Alexa is on the same power as the internet – yet I knew I wouldn’t be able to pull the forecast upon the internet.  Either Jenna or Roland asked, “Alexa, are you working”

The red glow came on and she apologized that she was not working but to try again later.  Jenna than made a comment about the friendly blue that is received when Alexa (or Echo) is working but referred to the red color as the circle of death.

Dental Tools and Novocain

          I went to the dentist yesterday so that he could fill/replace my tooth.  I was loaded up on Novocain – I think it affected my mental state.  I remember going to another dentist many years ago.  He was my very first dentist when I lived in Midvale.  He would ask patients if they wanted gas to help them relax or the walkman and maybe something else.  I wanted it all.

How the right side of my mouth felt each time I tried to eat

          I don’t know why when my mouth is getting worked on, I somehow feel so relaxed in the dentist chair.  I’m really not.  I could sense my body tension as I sat in the dentist chair yesterday, but in my mind, I thought I was relaxed.  Somehow my mind detaches from my physical body when I am in the dentist chair.

          They had given me sunglasses to block out the glare.  I had also closed my eyes and went back in a time when I had gone to the dentist in Midvale and also when I was loaded up on epidural the time I gave birth to Jenna.  They kept telling me on telling me to push.  In my mind I was pushing.  Apparently I wasn’t making any physical effort.

          My mouth was open wide.  It felt like I had nine different instruments in my mouth in addition to gloved human fingers. They had invited another person to assist.  Are you kidding me?  How many hands can I fit into my mouth?  The one called to assist was operating another machine and was never directly in my mouth.  Even if I had had my eyes open and there’d been a mirror, I don’t think I would have been able to see as the doctor hands would have been in the way.

This is sort of how it felt - but no tie around my head.  It felt like gauze on the inside of my mouth

          One instrument felt cold against my mouth – as though it had just been removed from the freezer.  One assistant held my tongue – my overly long tongue which has pushed my teeth out and most likely undone three years worth of braces torture and expense.  What a waste.  What a shame.

https://www.nowlaugh.com/6-reasons-dentists-are-evil

          My face itched.  I tried scratching but my face was so numb I wasn’t even feeling it.  I drove myself home and tried to enjoy the turkey dinner that Roland had prepared.  Just when I thought my taste buds were coming back from the D3 problem I mentioned here, the Novocain has set me back again. I could not taste what I was eating and therefore didn’t finish.

          I will be staying away from crunchy stuff for a while so as not to upset my tooth.  The Novocain has since worn off my face – though I suspect I may still have some in my mouth as things still don’t feel back to normal for me.  Roland starts his vacation today.  The work assignment I had set up for today fell through.  Just as well.

People Don’t Come With Instruction Books

          For the last two days I’ve accepted work assignments from two different schools to fill in for aides who have been given the assignment to keep an eye on specific students.  I feel for the students who are trying their best but allow themselves to get distracted by the one who is “unique” or has “special needs” and may be treated with “kid gloves” when they, themselves are not and wonder why a certain classmate is allowed to get away with things that they cannot.

          I understand the need to allow a “special needs” to have the same opportunity as those who are considered the norm.  I think it equally important for the “norm” to be exposed to “special needs” as they learn about discipline, social skills and other things that are not a part of academics but still need to be learned.  But at whose expense?

          Though the student body is less populated than the area that we had moved from five years ago, the class sizes are huge in size for lack of teachers and/or space.  Many kids need more personal attention than given – though the system does its best to accommodate.  There seems to be a fine border between education and discipline.  The schools, desperate for teachers, have hired many that have not been trained in finding tricks in order to discipline.

          Still, no one method is going to work for every student – just as no one method will work on each child in any given family.  It doesn’t seem to matter how small or large the family is, there seems to always be at least one that will move to the beat of a different drummer.  I know that whatever method of discipline I may have used on Tony would not work on Randy and vice-versa.  Two totally separate personalities with different thought process and ways of learning.

          Jenna hates having group projects in which children are assigned to work together.  I hated that, too.  But I do get it.  We need to have good communication skills to get things accomplished as adults.  It’s better to learn how to be a team player at a young age than try to apply it to one’s job or career responsibility later on down the road.  “Kid gloves” shouldn’t even be an issue in the workplace – and yet there are some companies that seem to skirt around them. 

          How much further ahead are those who allow God to be a part of our lives and include Him in everyday decisions.  Communication is essential. Frustration occurs when we don’t, won’t or aren’t able to communicate.

Dash # 750 Bucket List

If you were to make a bucket list, what is one thing that would be on it?

          I have always wanted to see New England in the Fall.

https://www.americansky.ie/new-england-holidays/top-10-things-to-do-in-new-england

I would not mind visiting Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont, visiting an inn or two, take in a pumpkin festival perhaps. 

https://newengland.com/today/seasons/fall/10-places-to-visit-in-new-england-in-fall/

I would want to visit some historic sites in Massachusetts and of course get some New England clam chowder.

https://www.finecooking.com/recipe/new-england-clam-chowder

        I haven’t gone as there is always something else that seems more pressing to spend my money on – like a new roof, new shoes, an overcoat, etc.  We have pretty falls in Oregon.  

https://oregonfallfoliage.wordpress.com/2018/10/05/find-your-oregon-fall-this-week/

We have a coast and little tourist traps.  I have lost my desire to travel – but if I did, I would like to go during the fall.  Jenna still has two more years of school and does not wish to travel while school is in session.

          I’m grateful to have books and imagination to take me to places that I might not even know about otherwise.

Rumors and Speculation

I remember hearing about the Hostess bankruptcy (here and here) back in 2012 – the year I started my blog.  I’d written down some ideas and had collected some pictures to go with a post that never got posted.  I would miss the delicious cream-filled treats.  I would not be able to make “Twinkie” trains with Jenna

https://www.somewhatsimple.com/how-to-make-a-train-cake/  © 2019 SOMEWHAT SIMPLE, DESIGN BY LINDSAY HUMES.

But as I was working on my post, it was announced that Twinkie would stay (here) and so I never posted it (as the title was "No More Twinkie Trains").

or purchased Ding Dongs or Hostess Cupcakes again.

In 2016 Hostess announced a rebirth for their products (here and here).  However, the icons no longer appear on the box (eg Captain Cupcake, King Ding Dong, and Twinkie the Kid)

and the snacks are about a third of the size from what I remember (for example, the foiled ding dong covered my palm and didn’t appear to be lost in it;  and keep in mind that I really do have small hands)

 

The ding dong no longer comes in foil

But hey, what a great marketing strategy.  Disappear for four years and come back smaller and perhaps the public will be so grateful that they might not notice the decrease in size – and maybe even taste.

  

The only snack that appears to have gone up in size is the Hostess Zinger which was a parent company to then Dolly Madison (here and here). 

Not much difference in size when comparing the twinkie side by side the zinger.  There was a vast difference in size when the zinger was marketed under Dolly Madison.  

Lots of parent companies that seemingly own everybody else.  Too many hands in the pot if you ask me.