Beneath the Wraps

                 As we were returning from church yesterday Richard pointed out a snowman near a senior trailor park.     The snowman looked tall against                                                            th e green grass.   As we passed the pathetic looking                          snowman it seemed to take on                                                                  the form of a skeleton.     It was quite near ...

  We finally received the promise of snow after an almost two week warning that it would come.   “Warnig” for some. “Promise” for others.   Not the same snow.   I took pictures as soon as I got out of bed.   For even as I type these words I can see the snow melting.   By this afternoon the trees won’ t show any evidence of it having snowed – at least in my part of town. There is a couple that had come for dinner and games last night.   They have snow.   Lots of snow.   The description they may use would be “victimized” as well as countless others in our ward who don’t live in the city but in non-incorporated areas where there is no speed limit and limited firefighting – if any. I wonder if it was snow or outdoor elements that started Tony and his rules about leaving shoes at the door.   I hadn’t even thought to take a picture.   There must have been more than ten pairs of shoes near the door – I had guessed so the carpet wouldn’t ...

          I remember experiencing a headache in November.   My sister gave me some Ibuprofen and my headache was gone.         After Christmas and into January I had experienced sensitive teeth.   My daughter-in-law gave me some Ibuprofen and the pain seemed to vanish.         This morning I woke up with a sore arm.   I took some Ibuprofen and it no longer hurts me.           I marvel that after the drug has entered my body it is able to travel to exactly where I need it.   I think that is genius!

  It is so cold outside So unlike our first year in Oregon We didn’t need light jackets then Let alone heavy coats There has been warning of snow I personally think it’s too cold Snow doesn’t fall when it’s freezing Or at least that’s how it used to be The worst part about all the cold That is currently causing misery for many Is in thinking that the summer months Will be so much worse blaring heat upon us Quite the opposite of now.

                 A couple of nights ago I had a dream about a salt grinder that doesn’t exist.   Last night I had a dream that I had forgotten details as I write.   In part I was searching for a book and had come across a whole bunch that had been put away for whatever reason.   Some I remembered but most I did not.   So I chose to set aside to look at with more effort (reading).                The first one was a children’s book.   I don’t remember what it was called but my mom had made notes on various pages – in crayon.   It was interesting to see that.   Of course I don’t can’t remember anything about it now.   I do remember that the book was about a salt grinder which replaced a pestle and mortar.   (As though that would provide great material for a children’s book) and my mom had written he...

             Shortly after we had moved to Oregon I remember a Book of Mormon class having been offered on a Tuesday night of each week.  The missionaries would teach the class which seemed well attended. I became familiar with the class when I would go to the Relief Society activity meeting which was held once a month – also on a Tuesday. There were some sisters who chose to attend the Book of Mormon class rather than support the sisterhood of the Relief Society.  I remember being annoyed that they were on the same night usually at the same time.              It must have been in 2019 when the Book of Mormon class was changed to the Come Follow Me class.   In addition to Sunday school there were members of the ward who would meet once a week with the missionaries – but the time was changed to 4:00 on Wednesdays.   During nice weather we would meet outside.   It was a nic...

             I remember so many cold winters when I was living in Utah.   Occasionally we would have surprises when no coat was required but for the most part we had to bundle up and trudge through snow.           Our first winter in Oregon was so different.   It had snowed once but didn’t last.   snow on the 10th of December 2015 It did not last Jai's snowman kept shrinking By February there were signs of spring.   I don’t remember having experienced blossoms and blooming growth so early in the year before. Today I was reminded of this post I had created 8 years ago “When I was living in Utah, it never occurred to me that one day I would believe that February would offer perfect weather for walking, riding bikes, hearing motorcycles and lawn mowers. I am really enjoying the outdoor temperature right now. ” We’ve had one really nice day in February this year.   We had seen ...

                I have boxes of tax files and insurance policies, receipts, warranties and so forth.   I have memorabilia, started scrapbooks, sooooo many photos.   Lesson outlines and lesson ideas.   And I’ve gotten rid of a lot.   So why does it feel like all the paperwork keep growing?           I don’t have to save any of it right?   Aside from all the tax detail, insurance policies and so forth, most of this could just be obtained from online, right? So why the heck am I saving it?   As Jaime has never been as sentimental as I am, I am certain that she would not care if I threw out all that I’ve been saving instead of having her go through it and throw it away.             And the pictures.   Oh my gosh.   There are so many pictures.   I have scanned all of the pictures – I think.   So why am I h...

             As a former sister missionary I remember introducing non members to strong members to be fellowshipped. Finding strong priesthood members who would remain in the ward long after the missionaries had gone.   Wouldn’t it be more meaningful to be baptized by a fellow member and still have that connection down the road.   I remember one of my brothers making it a goal NOT to physically baptize those he taught but to pass the reign onto another.   Not that it’s a choice for just anybody to baptize.   One must have authority and has to be interviewed the same at the individual to be baptized.           Missionary baptisms are handled by the missionaries while primary baptisms arrangements are made by primary leaders and/or parents depending on the size of the ward or stake and the amount of children being baptized.   I remember making the arrangements for Jaime’s baptism bef...

           Neither Richard nor I have been sleeping well lately.   He caught a virus due to stress and probably room temperature.   I always wake up hot and he has a pile of blankets.   He coughs.   Bonnie snores.   One or the other of us will leave the room.   He turns on the TV.   It is ALWAYS loud.   I can ’ t return to sleep when there is noise.   But somehow between two and four I slept hard.   Really hard.   I know it was hard because I had a nightmarish dream.   “ I had gotten out of bed for something (probably to go to the bathroom) and when I returned my end table and all contents had disappeared.   I remember looking for them in some kind of office building.   That was weird. “ Later on, while in bed I heard a noise and gone to the window to investigate a noise. I saw our car back up out of the driveway.   Surprisingly there had been enough light to i...

                 I’m certain that my insurance policy must be in the shed as I can’t find it in the house.   Too many things have been pushed aside.   I haven’t had the room to go through them until now but don’t wish to tote everything back into the house only to take it out again.   I can be more effective when it warms up – but not to scorching.              I can’t sort through papers while I’m wearing gloves and so my fingers are cold after having gone through two boxes – neither had any hints of what I thought should be present.   My fingers are so cold I couldn’t do anymore.   But I was having fun looking as I came across memories of handwriting, saving various assignments from Jaime’s school, an old photograph of a cousin and his wife.   The photograph isn’t labeled.   If I should die right away, no one in Oregon is going to know who ...

            I vaguely remember a class called “Culture Refinement”.   It was taught in Relief Society on the 4 th Sunday of the month.   I remember my mom was a cultural refinement teacher.   I know that was her calling while I was out on my mission. The subjects of her lessons seemed to focus on arts, literature, and customs.   I liked the custom part of it – learning about other cultures, nationalities and backgrounds. The class was dropped sometime before this century – though I can’t pinpoint a date.   I was serving in the primary for so many years.          I guess I was reminded a little bit when we had our lesson on Sunday.   The theme (from my point of view anyway) was on acceptance and loving a person though you might not agree with their lifestyles.   It would be nice to understand different walks of life – what makes one tick.   Becoming more aware of our diversiti...