Beneath the Wraps

 Bears hibernate during the winter                                     when it's cold I hibernate during the summer                                   though it actually isn't summer yet I am preparing ahead of time

            The opportunity of blowing up my phone and wearing down my battery I get it.   I get the group text thing.   Why it’s done.   It’s convenient for the sender – instead of sending out 10 plus texts that say the same thing:                                         Emma’s Blessing                                         Service Activity                              ...

               We had another convert baptism in our ward today.  Two of his cousins were baptized over a year ago.  Their mom is a member but does not attend as English is not her native language and so she does not always understand what is being said.  All of her children are bilingual.             The member who gave the first talk felt prompted to bear his testimony in Spanish.   The Spirit was louder than his words (for me) and tugged at my heart strings (which evidently are wired directly to my tear ducts) and I was touched.   I think the family was as well.            I thought about many primary baptisms I ’ ve attended in the last ward I was in – all of which I have mentioned in various posts.  The bishop ’ s son made a paper airplane out of the program which reminded me of the most irreverent baptism I ’ ve ever attended.  I was also remi...

                 Richard and I had a date on Saturday.  We went to the circus.  I did not get any pictures of the lions – female liger?  The back door was open which gave an appearance of silhouettes within a cage – at best.  My photos really weren’t turning out and so we took pictures with Richard’s phone.             I don’t think I’ve been to a circus since I was in junior high.   It wasn’t bad.  Richard sat behind me so that I could lean on him.  My pictures, of course, don't our outing justice.   Elks sponsored C&M circus Saturday May 18

                Throughout my blog I have created various posts about my personality, growth, and my gratitude toward the “Come Follow Me” program.  Last week Bro. Wilcox shared a lesson on “Not Leaving Zarahemla”   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRiZgJBzP-8&t=2852s           Metaphorically that is where I raised.   I had heard about the outside world but had no desire to be out there among the wolves.   I feel blessed that so much of what others view as temptations were not tempting.   I never wanted to do drugs, smoke, attend parties, or what have you.   I was safe in Zarahemla.   That is where I wanted to be.           I understand the need for some to leave Zarahemla in order to grow.   Unfortunately, due to poor choices, there are hardships that need to be endured.   It involves a lot of pain – not ...

            In my last post titled “That’s Messed Up” I gave a brief account of those who had traveled during the reign of Mosiah found at the end of Book of Omni and all throughout Book of Mosiah.   Zeniff was among the first party who had come from Zarahemla.   He ended up as a ruler in the land of Nephi-Lehi.   His group of people were in bondage to the Lamanites for at least three generations. Zeniff had been righteous and had kept records.   Before he died he conferred the kingdom to his son Noah who was not righteous and who probably committed every sin there ever was.   It was during his reign when Abinidi was sent to call King Noah and his people to repentance.   Alma, then one of King Noah’s priests, believed in the words of Abinidi.   When he tried to defend Abinidi it was not well received and Alma fled and recorded the words of Abinidi and went about teaching anyone who would believe him.   ...

             That’s probably not the best title for this post – but I am not the only mind that has felt a sense of that thought at some point during one’s life time. The Book of Mormon starts out as an account written in first person.   Nephi has two sets of plates which he so cleverly refers to as the large plates of Nephi and the small plates of Nephi.   Say what?           The large plates share the history of the people while the small plates refer to the word of God.   Nephi writes according to what he is told and what he learns and would like for us to learn.   Nephi is the author of the first two books.           From my understanding the small plates were handed down from one generation to the next while the large plates were passed from king to king (or ruler to ruler).   So before Nephi dies he passes the plates to his broth...

            The counselors from the Elder’s Quorum and Relief Society are asked to attend the huddles of either family history or meet with the missionaries.   As both RS counselors have been involved with another class (which happens during the time of the huddle meetings) the president and I have filled in for the last three weeks or so. And then Richard was called to assist in the missionary program (which he has pretty much been doing anyway). In our last huddle the missionaries presented a list of some inactive members they had contacted and told us that each had expressed interest in returning to the fold.   Each of us were assigned a few names from the list.   Richard felt impressed to bring goodies – cupcakes or cookies.   We settled on chocolate chip cookies and Richard and I visited two households yesterday.   The first house we drove to was in the country.   50 Acres.   Nice couple.   They used to ...

               Lately Richard has been receiving several calls from home warranty and mortgage places wanting us to refinance or invest or purchase or whatever.   He’s had enough calls – some from companies we have already dealt with – that he now gets rid of the caller by stating, “Oh, we have decided just to sell”                 We did look up the address that was given - or tried to.  There is no street bearing that name in Myrtle Creek.  It isn't even a house number where we have lived or looked at.  I t would be nice if we could sell just to have money in our pockets – but it is a bogus address.                  We’re stumped at where the address materialized and how Richard’s phone or name got attached to this bogus address.  Seems like all these companies were scammed.  Just to make things clear:  WE DID NO...

  Ever since we moved to Oregon members of our ward have indicated that finding jobs comes easy to those in the Church.   Maybe before 2020.   I didn’t get a job right away with the school system – but I did get a job.   Haven’t found another.   But I have put in MANY applications and have had interviews.   I didn’t think I was being all that picky.   Maybe. The most frustrating thing was having Richard get on my case – also believing that it would be easier to find work than it has been.   Now (with on bachelors and two masters) he’s the one putting in applications and interviewing and not getting hired.   I feel for him – I do.   He wants to work.   I wouldn’t mind working part time somewhere.   I’m okay with volunteering at the library – though just a bit of extra income would help financially.   A lot of extra income would help keep Jaime in school. I’d like Richard to be working again.   I am sorry he has to ...

                 I was volunteering at the library the other night and was given the assignment to find some missing books.  As I was searching the shelves I came across Heather Vogel Fredrick’s book – Pies & Prejudice from The Mother Daughter Book Club series. I grabbed it for the series title.  One of the books that Jaime and I had read at the library mother daughter book club was Pie by Sara Weeks ( here ). I did not see it as a play on words from the title “Pride and Prejudice” until later nor a book series.  Nor do I understand why something in the Juvenile section would have such a tiny font.  I have seen bigger fonts in the young adult.  So for the most part I have been reading with a magnifying glass.  That is getting tiresome.  Thus I may not finish.             I was also reminded of the Beehive Award when reading that this particular book is an Oregon award fi...