Beneath the Wraps

            Funny how since giving the lesson on "Divine Design" to the RS sisters almost a month ago, that I have been noticing more parallels and "divine design" examples in so many lives that I hear about.  Last week  Jenna and I watched this story on Sunday Morning - a program that Roland has on almost every Sunday I have known him.                He was in the kitchen making breakfast for Jenna and me when the Steven Hartman shared his piece about an unlikely friendship between Ben Taylor from Ogden, Utah and Joel Willie from Liberia.   Joel was in need of money and has been using facebook to connect with strangers to invest in a business.   Ben Taylor accepted his friendship that he might keep Joel so busy that he wouldn't have time to scam anyone else.   Joel's interest was in an electronics outfit located in New Jersey, but Ben had googled the address...

            It might not even be Microsoft or Windows but rather a scam - which indicates that it needs to be corrected.  Constant interruptions whenever I use the web - I used to get a warning page with white captions in red background and even voice advising to call Microsoft IMMEDIATELY!   Roland says he gets that too, but ignores and proceeds.  His computer is for work.  I guess if he can do it, I can do it.  The other day I was researching for an assignment.  I got the message that I had been locked out of my computer and my screen went white.  In the corner was a number to call.  I reported it to Roland who said he would look at it but was taking too long for me and so I called the number to give them hell.             I got a recording.  Could I please take a short survey while I wait.  I guess.  I don't even remember what ...

                The weather seemed to be the perfect temperature during Bill and Kayla's visit - except for the last day which was cold.   We had a few perfect days since until Tuesday and Wednesday.   Unbelievable Heat Wave.   Roseburg broke a record of 90 degrees on the 25th of April.   How dare it be warmer in Oregon than in Salt Lake!             We had watched the news to learn of how much longer.   We were told that yesterday would be hot but not as bad as the last two days.   The next week predicted a drastic drop in temperature and rain.   Of course, we'll get rain.   We can make that happen just by putting up our A/C.   At first, Roland was just going to do our bedroom, and wait to install the A/C in the main room.   After watching the news, I thought he might in the bedroom, but he ended up...

            There is a family history fair coming up in May.   Someone had made reference to the importance of it during our conference meeting.   Yes.   It is important.   Good hygeine is important - yearly checkups with the doctor and semi-annually for the dentist.  That doesn't mean we love doing it.            I have been rereading the autobiography of my former neighbor's mother.   She was 81 when her words were published and lived another 25 years.   She is the oldest living person that I have personally known. It has been interesting reading about the history she has lived. She enjoyed family history.               I prefer the picture taking and journal entrees over research and accumulated documents that may or may not be a distant relation. Currently, I have at least three ...

            When there are not enough active members attending church, wards may combine as others are done away with.   When there is growth in the church, new wards and stakes are created. I have lived in such areas that affected ward boundaries.             I am too young to remember when my mom and neighbors were a part of the third ward.   I had always known us as the forth.   Just after or right before I had graduated high school, it was announced that our ward boundaries would be changing as our stake would include members on the west side of state street.   One and a half streets were made a part of the seventh ward.   I remember there wasn't much support in the "sustaining vote" - nevertheless, it was carried out.                It wasn't too many years later when I was o...

Half an hour early is still not early, not  enough time to get a  seaton the pew. One hour early would not be enough time. You'd have to get there at 6:00 before the doors open. You and whatever other vultures are waiting in the parking lot. If you come any time after 8:00, you have to sit on the hard folding chairs that are smashed so near one another that you will feel like a sardine. It is possible for me to sit in certain chairs for two hours, but not those hard folding chairs made for thin people. Give me a recliner, or at least something big and soft. During morning conference, I was standing by the wall just as much as I was sitting down.   The second time I got up, Roland got up also but then he disappeared. Jenna asked where he had gone.   I didn't know and so went to look for him.   I found him out in the foyer, sitting in a comfortable red chair.   I knew he wasn't feelin...

            Evidently, there was an agenda created for the stake conference that had to be changed after the general conference announcements.   originally there had been a meeting created for the priesthood which had been changed to all auxiliary leaders.   Roland was required to attend that one, but I was not.   I said I had wished to go to the adult meeting as I generally get more from it than from the Sunday morning meeting.   We both did.   My favorite talk was the first one given after the introduction and new agenda - all on the same topic - which was ministry.             The first speaker was given permission to show a visual similar to this:                Though displayed on the overhead screen, I did not notice the fish that she tried to point out.   I can b...

          I LOVE the feel of my hair right after it's been cut - the fact that I can run my fingers through it and shampoo it only once and have my scalp clean.   My hair doesn't grow long so much as it grows thick. I know there are many women who would love the problem of too much hair.   Though it does have its perks, it does take longer to find the scalp through thick hair.   It will also whip in the wind and either get in my mouth when I'm trying to eat or else it seems to tangle a lot more easily. I don't know how it's possible, but my hair seems to grow faster in Oregon than it did in Salt Lake.   Even my hairdresser was surprised as the pile hanging from my head as it hasn't been that long since she cut it before.           I miss my hairdresser in Murray - one I had been going to for at least 30 years.   I believe she knows my hair better than I do. ...

            When Jenna was in preschool, the school district offered a course for parents to communicate with or discipline their children . . . I can't remember how it was worded.   Jenna was going through a whining stage and Roland and I both wished to assist her in overcoming.   Somewhere in my possession, I have the questionnaires as both Roland and I received our own packets of material.   Of course, I can't find them now to pull up an example except for the incentive charts found here .             The questions were presented in a manner that may have led one to believe that the questions were about the children, but with each class and questionnaire, I felt like the class was really geared toward parenting and understanding ourselves.   It was a fun class, I thought and I really enjoyed getting acquainted with the instructor and some of the ot...

        Although the definition for Express means "to convey", I often associate the word with speed or convenience" - such as in "American Express" or "Federal Express"  or even the express lane on the freeway or supermarket checkout.  I find it ironic that an "Express" would hold up the line of cars.         I couldn't take a picture of the vehicle in front of the line as I wasn't directly behind it.  It wasn't a big deal really.  Eight cars driving 20 on a 45 road is no big deal. After all, the daily traffic in Salt Lake - which accounts for more than 8 to 10 cars - is a big deal.  8 - 10 cars would be neighborhood traffic,  but not a main road.         I don't think I would have thought that much about it had I been in Salt Lake,  but 8 backed up cars is quite heavy traffic for MC - so I thought there was a bus making st...

My brother-in-law has been posting silly answers to questions he finds.  I have taken several of his topic post "questions" to create my own.  This will tell you a bit about me. When I was little, I used to think things that happened in movies could work out in real life - like Mary Poppins flying away on her umbrella or half chicken half mammal could be produced by a mammal diligently sitting on the egg.   I don't know it was so much gullibility on my part as it was hopefulness. I think the best place to sit on a bus is near the driver.   In Salt Lake, Jenna and I enjoyed talking with some of the morning route drivers.   It wasn't always an option as front seats are reserved for wheelchairs and those who don't/can't move around as well as the average person.   On long trips I'll sit in the back - generally from Fairbourne to Kayla's house, there was no other choice but the back. That was fine as it was a great distance.   I am a ...