Beneath the Wraps

                  The first counselor in Relief Society was just released yesterday.   We knew it was coming.   But now there is a vacancy.   Almost every active member already has at least one calling.   Dang!           I did see a sister get called out of Relief Society.   I wonder if she was called to fill the position.   If so, I wonder if she accepted.  

            When Christ shared parables the “characters” were servants, sons, a certain man and so forth.   In the parable found in Luke 16:20 the beggar in the parable has a name.   I don’t know that I would have even thought anything about it if it hadn’t been pointed out.   The poor man was given a name but the rich man (verse 19) remained nameless. According to Google the name Lazarus means God has helped.         This was one of the parables that we had covered in Sunday School last week. We also discussed the “gulf” more in depth as we read the footnote which referred  us to 1Nephi 15: 28-30 which explains in part Lehi’s vision and that the “gulf” separates  the wicked in the spacious building from those holding on to the iron rod.       I am fascinated with the interpretation of parables and placing myself into each role of the characters as I age and relate to the story differently t...

          Last night Richard was approached by an unhoused woman who said she had not eaten for two days and would he be able to help her out.   We did happen to have some leftover food in the car.   He gave her the part we hadn’t eaten and she went on her way.   She reminded me of the unhoused woman mentioned at the end of this post.   One week into the pandemic and not all people were certain of how serious it was.   Masks and social distancing were not yet enforced everywhere.   Jaime and I could hear the homeless woman singing and Jaime decided to join her and made a tiktok video of the two of them singing “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman . I remember how Jaime looked at her as an equal and had not passed any judgement.   I knew she was standing too close for Carol’s liking. We had met up with her a day or two later ( here ) and had driven in separate cars. Jaime showed her the video the next day.   ...

 House sitting for a friend.  Gorgeous yard.

 I LOVE them.        I love finding shapes. I love finding them in the sky and surrounding the hills. I like watching them change colors. Clouds are beautiful.

 Didn't turn out what I had expected.  Still not through.  But closer - I suppose. Spent the majority of yesterday bringing items from the shed and back room to find a new home the back room is still in disarray - even moreso than the counters pictured above.

  I saw the date and realized I have a friend who has a birthday today.   It has been a very long time since I called her my friend.   I don’t know why we fell out of touch. Nor do I know why I feel compelled to create this post. Happy Birthday, Janeen – Hope you are doing well. the chocolate here won't kill you

                 When I had my brick phone my son Tony added an app that he thought would be beneficial.  I started getting all kinds of text messages about things that I really didn’t care about and asked Jaime if she could remove it.  Eventually all the unwanted messages stopped also.  I don’t want apps on my phone!  I want my phone to be a phone.  Yes, being able to receive text messages and taking pictures are nice bonuses but really not necessary.  I don’t need the website.  I don’t need apps to clog up my system.             Richard and I had gone to Staples.   An overly enthusiastic employee attempted to give me tips on how to save money if I install their app onto my phone.   I whipped out my flip phone and showed it to him.   When Richard joined us I excused myself to use the restroom.   Apparently he talked Richard into putting the app on his p...

                I didn’t realize that darning socks is still practiced – and evidently has been upgraded to being performed on the sewing machine. Really?  When I have a hole in my sock, I will just by a new pair.  Forget the darning thing.  I have seen it performed and am certain I could figure it out, but it seems more work than it’s worth.           I wear cheap socks – not a lot of fabric or weight.   I don’t really care for the expensive ones or handmade or bulky socks.   Richard had purchased a couple of pair for me and Jaime.   I admire the thought – and although the socks are cute seem impractical to my feet.     The sage are mine and the black are Jai's For one thing there are multiple threads which always manage to catch on my toenails.   They hug my leg too tightly for another.   I have many pair that do that. I prefer my legs to breathe. ...

            In the Church of Jesus Christ there is a meeting in which members of the congregation are encouraged to make their way to the stand to bear their testimonies.   This meeting takes place once a month – usually the first Sunday of each month.   General Conference also falls on the first Sunday of the month and so testimony meeting gets moved to either the last week of the month prior or to the second week (depending on the ward or stake).   In the South Umpqua ward we have held testimony meeting the week prior – except this year. On March 26 we had stake conference – which is a geographical boundary made of up several wards April 1 and 2 was General Conference (which is when the meetings are broadcast world wide) April 9 Easter program Thus our testimony meeting was not until the 16 th of this month.            I recall sitting through a many of sacrament meetings as a you...

         We have had cats in our yard.  They come and go.   Before Jai went to college she would name the cats:  “ Ghost ” , “ Blanco ” , “ Midnight ” , “ Venom ” . . .  all which have vanished over the years.   Currently there have been two tabbies –   one yellow and one black and tan.   Ally calls the black one “ Pudding ” .   Her friend, Molly, who lives next door has  claimed the cat as hers and calls the cat “ Muffin ” .   The cat does not live at either house and yet  both girls have claimed the cat as her own.          It ’ s not a farel cat exactly.  Rumor has it that she/he belonged to a family  who recently moved but failed  to take the cat with them.    I don ’ t think said family really did  abandon him/her.   I think the cat is  well taken care of at different houses  and tends to han...

             Our son Randy is a safety inspector who makes more money than he knows what to do with.   Recently, Richard has started taking classes in order to become a safety inspector also and has been putting in applications for jobs.   One company texted on Easter Sunday to say they had availability and would like to interview him using the internet.   Okay, I get it.   After 2020 many have relied more upon technology for interviews using zoom or facetime or whatever.   Monitoring a lengthy questionnaire does not qualify as an interview in my opinion.           I was bothered that the “interview” was to take place on Easter day.   After all, he had just received the text message. Usually one will set up an appointment and not just willy-nilly create a spontaneous message through text. We had gone down to Ashland again as Jaime had left her wallet in the car and figured she...