This time it stuck – slushed on the roads. Dry now.
Snow’s been falling. Finally let up.
It’s noon and picture shows signs of spring
trying to poke through.
This time it stuck – slushed on the roads. Dry now.
Snow’s been falling. Finally let up.
It’s noon and picture shows signs of spring
trying to poke through.
As we were returning from
church
yesterday
Richard pointed out a
snowman
near a senior trailor park.
The
snowman looked tall against
the
green grass.
As
we passed the pathetic looking
snowman
it seemed to take on
the
form of a skeleton.
It was quite near its death after all.
It did snow again last night.
But
it is an even lighter snow than before.
Meanwhile I heard that
Salt
Lake got slammed with snow.
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 get dirty. But before I left Utah I thought perhaps it was so the shoes can be found more easily as they always know where they are.
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 her feelings toward the book. I would have liked to photocopy it somehow.
I woke up in a puzzled state. Why would I dream about a salt grinder (if there is any such thing) one night and a children’s book about it the next? My mom was somehow connected to both. I have miss her a lot. If it were possible for me to talk to her long distance, I would definitely reach out to her. I doubt the afterlife works that way.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 nice class in the beginning. I don’t
think we met at all during the Following Year as there was a pandemic. I’m not sure when it started back up but I
remember attending and missionaries teaching and then it stopped – the turn out
hadn’t been as good a before the pandemic and the class was dropped before the
Old Testament had finished.
I had enjoyed attending the Come
Follow Me classes – the fellowshipping and the assistance with understanding. We are studying The Book of Mormon this year.
I probably would still attend the class if it were offered. Not always in Sunday School as primary is
always short-handed. So grateful for the
videos and for those who share their knowledge and understanding. Thanks to all who have assisted with the Come
Follow Me program.
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 blossoms and growth.
But for the most part we’ve had cold rain and fog. It has felt like Utah winter - except without snow. Weather is so weird.
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 hanging onto all of them?
Because I can’t bring myself to throw them away. Though I have gotten better. Each time I go through I find I am able to
part with more than I did prior.
I have no sentiment for the tax
garbage nor do I want to save it all.
Sure enough as soon as I throw it out the IRS will come audit us for
some year that is no longer in my possession.
I haven’t even made a dent. I am
soooo tired. Still have items to scan.
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 before I was aware that there were others in
the stake who would also be baptized.
Still she was the only one from our ward and although the program
started in the chapel with the five children from the stake, but we broke off
into wards each time a child was baptized (here)
The missionaries had made arrangements for a program set up for two youth. The program was not complete and they had mentioned that before Richard took the reins of printing up the program to his own perfection and satisfaction. He asked why baptism is spelled with an "s" while baptize is spelled with a "z". He printed up several programs. But changes were made to include more youth and ward involvement. The Elders had picked up the programs and used a white out where some names had been but had not been filled out with the names of those who had been newly assigned.
A counselor in the YW class presidency gave the first talk on
baptism instead of the sister missionaries whose names were initially on the
program.
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 identify that it was our car. They must have been the ones who took the end table. I think that's where I had last seen my keys
“And right behind them was a red convertible
with four teenagers – first with
expressions of “Oh, no. We’ve been caught” but then a
smugness of “what are you
going to do about it”
“We had called the police. They were on their way but had not yet
arrived” when the rain
woke me up from my deep trance. I don’t think I ever
returned. If I did I cannot remember
what else happened. I am surprised at
remembering what I did.
Richard continues to come and go not
sleeping unless it is in front of the television in a sit-up position.
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 it is. Why am I saving it anyway?
My fingers are numb as I attempt to type
these words. Smiling about things my mom
had saved. I should work on tossing it
all. For if we ever move again I won’t
be toting it across the country. My
fingers aren’t frozen, but they haven’t warmed up still.