You know that it’s summer when neighboring
lawns become littered with household goods and florescent colored poster boards
come out to advertise great and big yard sales (which usually are neither great
nor big) and arrows to point the way to mostly junk with hidden treasures.Richard and Jaime will spot yard sales from a
mile away – I rarely notice even if I am standing in said yard.
Yard sailing each weekend doesn’t
appeal to me – though we had a specific hunt and hit 5 yard sales yesterday –
making an unnecessary purchase at four – spending the most at the estate
sale.No refrigerator though.We don’t need one but Biff and Clair will be
leaving and are in need of something bigger than the 20 inch fridge that they
purchased specifically for Ally’s shot medicine.
Yesterday seemed like a good day for
yard sales.Heavy clouds with the
promises of rain – at least that’s how the sky read.There was no rain, but the air wasn’t
unbearably hot.It was a good temperature.
We’ll be picking Jaime up on
Tuesday.The other three should be out
before her return.They were supposed to
move in today but a water line broke.Always something.I have really
been trying to let things go and apply the scriptures to my current
situation.Sometimes I am successful but
only sometimes.More often I find myself
irritated with all these little bits of ember that add up into a fiery blaze.
I didn’t wish to focus on my irritations
but at the same time knew that I needed to write things down as a reminder why
they are never coming back to live under the same roof as me – smiling as I do
it because I think about their also keeping a list of reasons why they will
never return.I’m guessing they are more
excited by the move of finally getting out on their own than I am to see them
go. I personally don’t believe they are financially prepared. We have tried to
tell them but there are some things that need to be learned through experience.
I see scenarios with our treatment
toward them and our Heavenly Father toward us.We may ask Heavenly Father for blessings but rarely does he grant us
those blessings right away – at least in my experience.He sends me the tools that I may obtain the
blessing with His guidance. Sometimes the blessing I thought I wanted turns out
to be something greater – but always in His due time though there have been a
few that have been in mine.
Richard’s solution has always been to
provide – give, give, and give some more even when there is nothing left to
give.He still hasn’t been able to cut
the apron strings.It’s not that I wish
to see Biff and Clair suffer.I would
like to see them grow.I would like to
see them find other resources – which perhaps they already have.I don’t know.They have slowly allowed us into their lives but for the most part have
attempted to do everything without saying a word to us.They have tried to do it on their own.But really we can’t do everything on our
own.We all need others to draw from and
to confide in. We need to rely upon our Maker.
I wish they were moving away further
than they are.They wanted to be closer
to Portland but are going to be ten minutes further – not that big of deal, but
it would be nice if they could be only an hour’s drive instead of three – how they
make it in just three, I’ll never know. That is the amount provided by
Google.Google doesn’t take into account
the congestion of traffic or detours due to construction.Apparently neither have they.
I wish them well.Looking forward to having my space again.
Before 2020’s pandemic the governor of
Oregon put a ban on plastics – namely plastic bags and straws. That year came
with the price of five cents per plastic bag (which is still way cheaper than
paying sales tax) and asking for straws – many (such as Costco) which offer those
crummy paper strawswhich ruin the taste
of whatever drink I may have ordered.
A shopper is always asked if he/she
would like a bag or bags and will be charged five or ten cents per bag.Many stores (including Walmart see here and here) have have done away
with plastic bags and may offer alternatives such as reusable (which may be
made of 100% plastic?) I would think for less than three dollars.
The McDonald’s in Myrtle Creek still gives out the fat McDonald’s straw thoughthese three articles (here, here and here) imply that there has been a change to paper in the UK and possibly California – so why would Myrtle Creek
have the privilege of passing out the plastic straw?Doesn’t matter.My post is not to fault the McDonald’s or
point fingers but to recall a memory about why I love the McDonald’s straw (the
big fat plastic ones). I think of my dad whenever I see them
My dad had had several strokes in
the last two years of his life.With
each stroke his brain was affected with the lack of controlling his muscles. He
had to have assistance with walking, and slowly lost the ability to eat, drink
and talk.We used to buy thick liquids
(peach nectar was the thickest we could find at the time) and look for straws
that were thick like McDonald’s because those were the best straws. I was grateful for the times that we were able
to obtain extra straws.
Thank you for your fat straws. Good
luck with another solution.
I don’t mind turkey bacon but Richard dislikes it. And I dislike the thick bacon he buys mostly because it does not taste like bacon. The first thick bacon we tried tasted like ham. If I wanted ham I would add ham not a slice of bacon that tastes like ham. This morning’s bacon was even worse –
pork chop flavored. Nothing wrong with pork chops I guess – but they do seem dry and lacking in flavor. Bonnie was okay with it. I think she relished the thought that I really didn’t want it.
I remember my mom fixing pork chop only one way. She would add potatoes, carrots and cream of mushroom soup. I told Richard that is what we need to do with this sad version of “bacon”.
I know I make worse of
situations inside of my head than how they really are – especially if I haven’t
gotten a proper amount of sleep. I know
I shouldn’t be uptight and I know I shouldn’t dwell on what I can’t change –
like missing dishes that have made their way out of the kitchen and haven’t
been returned. My imagination runs away
with me and I get carried away – which reminds me this skit of Ernie returning a
vacuum cleaner.
Often when I allow things to get out
of hand the real life situation will have the opposite results and I find I
have worked myself up for nothing.Yesterday
I had gone to the temple though Satan had done his best to keep me away.
After the session had ended Richard and I
continued to Ashland to collect Jaime to bring her home for the next four
days.She presented me with a cup that
has an owl on the side.She said it was
for my birthday (which is today).After
lunch we hit a vintage store where Richard purchased a pin and a cute bag for
me as well as a pig bank for himself.
Before
we pulled up to the house Richard stopped by the mailbox.Inside was a card from Tony and his family. That was cool.Receiving the card right before my birthday.
When
we arrived at the house the other three were in the room and were waiting for
us.Ally greeted me with “Happy Birthday,
Grandma.”
How did she even know it was my
birthday?Claire had baked brownies
which she spread with a peanut butter frosting.Ally had wanted one but Claire made her wait until we got home.I hadn’t even noticed the banner hanging over
the door.
As
soon as all of us were gathered in the room they presented me with a bag which
I had assumed was from all of them, but the card in the bag was from Richard. I pulled this gift out first and anxiously
pulled out more in hopes of finding the other two wise men.
I
found a box of chocolates and a big foot paw (more chocolate) but no more
kings.
I
don’t recall ever having received a Christmas ornament on my birthday before.Before I was able to remove the ornament
Richard told me that the other two kings were on each side.Oh, wow!What a cool idea.I love it!
spoiler alert: Christmas card this year has same pic
Claire
told me my card and gift were in the kitchen.Heavy brownies in the form of cupcakes.Yum.
Turned out to be a really great day which was totally opposite of what had been running through my head the day prior. And I'm grateful that I was mistaken with my worked up thoughts.
Today I was presented with more gifts from one of my ministering sisters. Garden stones, dishtowels. Another surprise. Wow.
In addition I have heard from all three of my sibs. I received Shelly's card earlier this week. We have emailed back and forth and she left a birthday wish on facebook (along with 25 others) and Steven texted a birthday wish. Keith and Nat sang to me in voicemail and Tony just called with his troop and sang to me. Life is good.
Our dinner for tonight will be along a Thanksgiving theme. What an awesome birthday 2023!
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 than I had the first time.There was quite a lot of participation and
the lesson was really good.I so do
enjoy Sunday School now.There was a
time when I didn’t.
I am so grateful for the “Come Follow
Me” program and the many who have shared their talents through podcasts and
videos.I have been viewing things in a
whole new light and I love that I feel growth within myself.
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.I think it made Carol nervous.
As careless as we had all been none
of my household members ever got sick with COVID.Carol, on the other hand, believes she got
it.She’d venture out of the house to
make a small purchase – such as cat food and toilet paper and there were
certain places that she started boycotting because of not enforcing “people
protection”.I remember many feeling
that way and others the opposite.Some
people still won’t support those that enforced the mask and social distancing
and so forth.Some people are in denial
and still believe it was all a hoax.
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