This Year's Come Follow Me

 

Before “Come Follow Me” was introduced the Doctrine & Covenants was part of a Church history study – taught in order of time frame when the revelation was given. 

Today we are taught chronologically – but it still helps to know one’s church history to know why the revelation was given.  Our goal is to find Jesus within the scriptures – not to dwell on church history.  We are also taught to teach by the Spirit – which I don’t think was the case today.

I have a hard time resonating with the current gospel doctrine instructor – though I’m not alone.  I wanted to share a discovery on my part but did not get the opportunity as my comments seemed to be brushed aside.  The instructor – who normally thrives on class participation – wanted to back up to the lost manuscripts and introduce Oliver Cowdrey.  Okay, I admit that my comment was a wee bit ahead of where he wanted to start – but I didn’t like the direction of conversation as comments seemed to focus more on the trivial matters than the message.  Also an entire class could be dedicated to any one section (6 – 11) but trying to cram all six into just one class is a bit much.

My comment was on (or would have been) on section 7 given between those dedicated to Oliver who had been serving as scribe but thought it would be great if he could also translate as Joseph.  A scribe is a gift.  It took Joseph and Oliver less time (about three months) to translate the entire Book of Mormon than did the first (lost) 116 pages.  Translating is a gifts.  One is not necessarily better than the other.  Same with John and Peter’s gifts mentioned in section 7.  Peter’s desire was to be guaranteed a place with the Savior on the other side – whereas John’s was to continue service until the time when the Savior made (or will make) his return.  BOTH are great gifts, talents, what have you.  One is not greater than the other.

My youngest son takes like a duck to water in almost everything he tries.  We don’t all have that in us.  Some are great at playing piano (or any instrument) , some are great at delegating or recognizing the talents of others (see this post), some are great at listening or cooking or crafts or computers . . . . we don’t all have to have the same talents.  We can benefit by enjoying or utilizing the talents of others.  We need to embrace one another and share our gifts with others and enjoy having that ability to appreciate the gifts of others.

There are many members of the “Come Follow Me” facebook page who will share their talents just by commenting or posting.  One such member is exceptional at pulling gems from different “Come Follow Me” podcasts and videos and making up power points bringing many views together.  I think it is awesome.

I still learn so much from videos I watch.  I am constantly taking screenshots and sorting “slides” for my own personal comprehension and I always study as though I am going to teach.  Well, I try to anyway. 

Last year I followed John Hilton religiously with this “Book of Mormon Master Class” videos.  And I have followed Scott Woodward with his “Doctrine and Covenant” backstory and message videos.  

He made up 15 of them three years ago. Unfortunately there aren’t any after section 19.  He currently does a podcast with Casey Griffiths.  I really wish he had continued with the “nutshell” videos.  I think they’re quite informative and am grateful that they’re still available for view.   

What a LONG and Exciting Day . . . for Richard

                Though the word “Exciting” is generally related to being a positive adjective, one’s anxiety level does not always mean the “excitement” is positive.  Take yesterday for example.  My, what a long day –

          It started out as a dry run to the dump – just to explore without first loading up and appearing to be lost.  I told Richard he should ask questions while we were there.  He didn’t.  That’s on him.

          As we were passing downtown anyway, Jaime wanted to stop by Tommy’s to get a treat. We loaded up the truck after we returned.

          The truck was purchased from a member who is going through a divorce.  He said that it needed a new battery which we have not purchased yet.  I think we need to do that.

          Point is we haven’t had the truck that long.  I have ridden in it myself but Jaime has not and so I wanted her to have that opportunity.  Good call on my part as whatever all I had eaten at Tommy’s had gone right through me (TMI) and I had problems different from the ones that Richard was about to endure.

          So while I was fighting my own battles with TMI – Richard and Jaime drove back to the MC dump only to be told they would have to go to Roseburg.  After offloading in Roseburg they got back in the truck and it wouldn’t start.  They said a prayer.  It started.

          They then went to Auto Zone to get something.  Got back in the truck.  Wouldn’t start.  Said another prayer.  It wouldn’t start.  Went back into Auto Zone and made a purchase for some other item that didn’t work to their (well Richard’s) expectations.  An employee figured out the problem and drove to the other Auto Zone (apparently Roseburg has two) and obtained the right part.

          Lot of sadness going on with the truck still not starting and Richard sending Jaime home (she had called a friend who came and got her and dropped her off) Finally a mechanic got the truck started and Richard then went to Costco to get some gas.  The truck died again at the fuel pumps.  Workers pushed him out of the way.  I don’t remember how he happened to start again or why he thought he needed to come home and have us follow him back. (Jaime drove as I cannot see at night) and we left the truck at a mechanics in Roseburg.  I think buying a new battery to begin with would have been less costly.  Certainly a lot warmer.

          Meanwhile Jaime had taken her car as she needed gas – which we filled up in Winston.  Richard was not thrilled to learn that neither her defroster or heater work.  Her car will be going to another mechanics tomorrow.  Oh what joy. 

            Perhaps I should mention that both vehicles are Fords.  Her Focus is 1995 and the pick up is 1999.  Fun fact.  Or maybe not FUN - or exciting.

Cold Grey Skies

 

The high today will be 42 – or perhaps that’s already taken place and now it is going back down.  Weird. 

On Tuesday we were told that we would get a storm come Thursday but Wednesday would send a mixture of snow followed by rain. 

We had our snow on Wednesday.  This is what is looked like at 7 a.m. 

 

Two hours later it was gone. 

Throughout the day we saw flurries of snowfall.  

Haven’t seen it since. 

I’m so glad Jaime hasn’t had to drive in it. 

She has had the challenge of fog however. 

Which I suppose could be worse.

It Still Makes Me Laugh

          When we moved from Salt Lake to Oregon we were expecting daily rain – though that hasn’t been the case.  We left polluted smog for light fog which seems to have become more dense with every passing year.  This year has been especially cold – a cold I have definitely felt while living in Utah.  It’s been below freezing at least four times this year.

         Yesterday we got snow.  It started coming down before Jaime left for work.  But it doesn’t stick.  It rarely ever sticks.  This morning there was no sign of it across the street, and barely even noticeable on our own.  Currently it can only be seen in the hills above us.  I don’t know how long it will last.

         And now we have this warning.

 

  In Oregon the snow falls in incheds.  In Utah the snow falls in feet.

A Plea to ALL Civilians of EVERY Nation

                 I have been irritated by the ignorance of those portrayed in so many cowboy pictures that my husband watches – only it isn’t just that time period.  It has been with us through the beginning of time.  I am so ashamed of what is taking place currently.

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/pettiest-protests-
president-donald-trump-united-kingdom-visit

       The entire population of the American population did not vote for Trump.  I’d dare say less than half – but Trump cheats.  I would dare say in all three elections.  I find it hard to believe that ALL seven swing states voted Republican.  He cheats.  He’s a bigger criminal than those he is trying to deport. 

      Just because Trump is an ass does not mean that all Americans are.   

It’s a Nostalgic Thing

 

         Jaime was making this face over something else but thought it fitting for the Big Lots closures.  It looks like eight remain open (at least for now) and all located in Washington State (or that is what I have led myself to believe)

         Jaime and I spent many hours walking to Big Lots and visiting Big Lots in Kearns.  Many times we would drive out of our way to visit the one in Roseburg.  What a sad sight.

other pics with references

 This is a photo I took of Carlin Prison.

I was unable to get photo of the warning sign, but you can find it at this site

Jim Goldstien

I had also missed my opportunity of getting a good photo of what my husband refered to as the "Joshua tree" although I couldn't find it listed under that name. I found the pic below on this site.

also a better picture of the Salt Flat rest stop (last post) found here

I found it interesting that the Elko Temple was built quite near a Wingers Casino and found two pics (with comments)  here and here. 

Apparently I was wrong about the location of the California Trail.  We had passed an exit indicating Hunter, no services and there was the center.  

May have been worth the stop but I don't even know if they were opened when we passed.  Here is the site for that location. 

So that wraps up our journey.  Sometimes I think I need to leave the state and return to appreciate the moist breathable air.

Rest Stops

 I drink a lot of water.  Always have.  As I increase in age my bladder does not seem to hold what it used to and so for the most part our road trips come with many potty stops.

This is the second stop with outhouse and not flushable or heat - or sometimes 

even light.  Walking from the car to the outhouse in the snow was a challenge.

This was the first rest stop crossing the Utah border.  

I was awed by all the matching green roofs - including 

a residential house where I assume the caretaker resides.

They even have a small dog park and electric car chargers

 

This is Bonneville Salt Flat rest stop which we passed without 

stopping; it looked more like an observation deck to me.  

 

Road Trip Pics

I took so many pictures but knew that most would not turn out as I was taking them from the car.  

These are the ones that looked decent after cropping

En  Route to Utah by way of Klamath Falls

between Winnemuca, NV and Salt Lake City, UT

I was floored by these work places that had to be driven a great distance

Beautiful Sunset on the way home

 

Some Miracles

                Our middle son had sent out a text before Christmas to inform us that one of our granddaughters was scheduled to be baptized on the 28^th and to please come.  I don’t know how may pleas he sent to indicate that our presence would be really awesome – but we didn’t have the funds.  I had asked my sister and brother-in-law if they would represent us.

          Meanwhile two days before Christmas I received notice about a bank deposit that would be made into our account – but not until this month.  Jaime kept on telling us if we could find a way we ought to go.  And so we left the house the day after Christmas to make the drive to Utah and surprise the family.

          We had stopped at a rest stop and I opened the back door to retrieve something – though not the 8 CDs that fell to the wet ground.  A man at the stop had noticed – even though it was dark.  He asked if he could help me.  I was so grateful to have this stranger’s assistance.

          After arriving in Utah we checked into the Hampton Inn as that and the Fairfield were the two closest to where my son and family live.  Richard learned that the clerk was from Oregon and they chatted for a bit.  We were given a discount – another miracle.  Another blessing.

          Our son called right after we checked in to inform us that his daughter was sick and the baptism had to be rescheduled. So much for surprising him the way we had planned.  I called my sister to let her know.  Her family is sick as well and so they would not have made it.  We were in town with sick family – but it had not been a waste.  We had prayed about it.  It’s just that if we had known on Thursday we would have turned around and returned to Myrtle Creek.

          We decided to surprise them anyway and showed up at their doorstep.  We were not greeted with the enthusiasm I had envisioned.  Ryan seemed put out or annoyed – yes we had waken him up on his day to sleep in – but hey, if my parents stopped by to surprise me, I don’t care how tired I was, I would hug them both and cry tears of gratitude.  I wouldn’t scold them because the baptism had to be postponed.

          Two of the kids seemed happy to see us.  We ended up taking the entire family out for breakfast and made a quick trip to the dollar store said our good-byes and headed back towards Oregon – though a different route as the snow had slowed us down during some of the drive.

          I had wanted to stop in Susanville but Richard wanted to keep going.  I should have been more persistent – but still do not have a very strong voice.  I had even less then and he did not hear me.  He really should have stopped and not continued on to Weed until the next morning.

          He claimed we had stayed at the Best Western before.  I don’t think so.  We had only been in Weed one time to my knowledge.  The Best Western was booked and we ended up at the Comfort Inn.  He didn’t think of that when he was told there was only one room left and instead of waiting for me to make a decision he paid an outrageous price for the “last” room.

          I’m sorry to say I saw a miracle in somebody else’s misfortune.  The keys we had worked in a door of a room that was already occupied. Fortunately they had chain locked their door so we couldn’t get inside.  So we returned to the office.  We were put into another room which was less than half the cost. 

          I had been so good at writing down our activities and encounters the first two days.  On the return I jotted down notes of the pictures I took and the cities we were in.  I thought for certain I would have the little booklet full upon our return.  I haven’t finished.  Still trying to process it all.  Still trying to find my voice.

          Ryan texted Jaime that he had been happy to see us and did enjoy himself.  I think his thought process and emotional reaction is even slower than mine is. I suppose we could afford to go back whenever the baptism takes place.  But I don’t think we will.  Richard and I are definitely as young as we used to be.  Our bodies have informed us they no longer enjoy road trips.  And I really have no desire to ever get on a plane again.

          Miracles continue.

In the Fire

           I have not set any new years resolutions – nor do I feel the need to wait until New Year’s Day to do so. 

I have been sick (off and on –though mostly on) for going on six weeks now.  I suppose I could have COVID – I never think about possibly having it until weeks after the fact. 

Richard and I took a quick trip out of town.  I noticed miracles along the way and have written them down.

I haven’t had much of a voice for the last eight days or so – possibly more (I’ve also been disoriented through this whole ordeal; grateful I don’t have a sinus infection) but am getting closer to being heard – though I sound like a cross between a chipmunk and one who may have swallowed razor blades.

So I do have thoughts in the fire.  Hopefully they don’t all get consumed and go up in smoke.  I need more motivation.

Lose the Bear; Use Glass Jars

                 I don’t know why I don’t just pour the honey from the plastic bear shaped container into a jar to start with – or why the honey companies don’t do it.  Why bear shaped plastic?  Oh, it’s cute – but very impractical.  Perhaps it’s less costly than glass jars – perhaps more practical when shipping.   But why the bear?  Honey crystallizes.  Boiling helps.  But so much easier to boil a glass jar than a plastic bear.  And trying to scrape out what gets stuck in the nose or ears - I feel like I'm being cheated at getting all my honey. Just saying.