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 28th 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.
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.
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.
I love our new bishop. LOVE Him. No, it is not my husband – but they are the same age. Mike is a mechanic who used to have a business downtown, but retired. He is the nicest man. He’s the father of eight. Four were at the ward today. Three are inactive. It was great to see the support.
I thought that the Elders Quorum would be released and announced, but that was not the case. Our former bishop was advanced to a high counsel position. Hmm. My husband is now ward clerk – the only position I ever remember my dad having served. Guess we will be taking two cars to church from now on.
Our ward has seemed to dwindle in attendance
since we first moved in. Some have left
our ward due to moving out of the area or moving on to the other side. We’ve had some move in – but where is the
activity? It has always been an older
ward; the daytime activities seem more well attended than night time.
The activities committee had set up and decorated Thursday morning to afternoon. It was beautiful. A lot of work went into it. They had set up an overflow room. But as it was not all the tables filled up. I don’t know why. Last year we seemed to have had people coming out of the woodwork. I felt smooshed as though there was no elbow room.
This year they had planned for 125 people. I think there may have been sixty people. Maybe. Lot of food. An announcement will be made tomorrow. Changes we’re not supposed to talk about. Speculations on my part. I do know who the new ward clerk is going to be. Many will be called and set apart tomorrow. I know I’m not supposed to say anything – but I don’t think anybody from my ward reads my blog – especially on Saturday. Why would they read the very day I post it. And after tomorrow they will already know.
Young Women and Relief Society will remain the same.
And so the traditions continue . . . .
I feel the same as I did just two years
ago – when we
postponed Thanksgiving because all of us were sick – except Jaime. But this year it’s only me – unless Jaime
has a sinus infection. She says her jaw
hurts and Roland threw out his back. We
did have Thanksgiving. There were seven
of us.
I had invited my friend Carolyn when I thought it was just us. But Richard wanted to invite Biff and his two. He also invited a member from our ward who will be going through a divorce and is having a hard time with it.
I did not play games with them but opted to do dishes instead. Found homes for all the leftover food. My head is throbbing currently. That is new. This morning it was just a sore throat. Dang
