Looking for the Little Miracles

I find it pretty amazing that when I make the attempt to write an entry, there is always something that comes out. On the other hand, when I contemplate making an entry, I can't think of a single worthwhile thing to say. I guess it goes back to the "If you build it, they will come theory". If I make the effort to write, things come out of my brain that I didn't even know were there.

That being said, I really can't think of anything. I had an interesting experience with my seminary lesson this morning. I normally know where the lesson is going to go. As I planned the lesson, I had a general idea. Every once in a while, it goes a completely different direction, and today was one of those days.

We were doing the lesson from Luke where Jesus teaches the parable of the rich man and the beggar named (coincidently his best friend's name) Lazarus. When teaching this, the discussion always comes up about rich versus poor, and how rich people have a harder time being righteous. I was trying to take it in a different direction based on how we are supposed to teach a principle of the gospel: in this case, the atonement. (We have this list that goes over the gospel principles in every scripture block from the gospels. We have a list of 12 gospel principles that we are supposed to teach including: Godhead, commandments, covenants, apostasy & restoration, etc.)

As I've looked at the list, I sometimes have a hard time envisioning how that particular block relates to the chosen principle. Usually when I think about it, I can figure it out. This was NOT one of those cases. What did a rich man going to hell, and a poor man going to heaven have to do with the atonement? In my notes I made for teaching the lesson I had that maybe the rich man could have chosen during his life to apply the atonement, and the poor man's burdens were surely lifted by his application of this.

Well, that's not what happened. The Spirit totally blew that out of the water. We ended up with a discussion of how the Atonement makes us all equal. We all have the opportunity to partake of it. We talked about how these students are being blessed by the gospel in their lives, and they all have family members who want nothing to do with it. Nonetheless, they are being given the opportunity even if they reject it. We all have ancestors who were not given the chance while alive for whom we are doing baptisms for the dead. The Atonement truly makes us equal when it is all said and done.

My point in bringing this up is how cool it is that the Spirit cares enough about what we are doing to speak up and tell us how it should go. We seem like such an unimportant group; why bother? It builds my testimony in how important each of Father's children are to Him.

I am grateful for the ways in which my calling helps me to grow. I never progress as much as I do when I am teaching. I am grateful to be a member of a church that requires a lay ministry. When I belonged to other churches with paid ministry, I never experienced this kind of growth. I know this is one of the marks of the true church on the earth today; no church with a paid ministry can be the Lord's Church. (As a side note, I like how Nephi defines "paid ministry"; he calls it "priestcraft". Seems a little harsh, does it? Think about it!)

Fast Sunday Outcome

That last date of 4 Feb. is misleading, as it was actually done in the wee hours after being up all day Saturday. Yesterday was a busy day with church and all. Being fast Sunday, Roger and I fasted to know if I should start teaching seminary again next year (as in early morning, you don't have a life anymore, seminary). We had very positive feelings, so I talked to President Allen about it in the hallway, and he jumped at the opportunity. I wasn't sure if he was happy about releasing me as RSP or putting me into seminary, but he was happy none-the-less. Perhaps he already has someone in mind for president.

I talked to one of the boys who was enrolled with us, but had to leave because he didn't have the money to pay tuition. I told him I would re-enroll him and give him his lessons at no charge if he would do the seminary program. He was ecstatic about both. He said he loves to study the scriptures. I will need to get hold of Bro. Lowry to get materials. We will finish out this year with homestudy and start with early morning next year.

I was surprised at how easily everything fell into place, but I shouldn't be. Everything we have done with the school has come about through the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Ghost. I know it is what Heavenly Father wants us to do with our life, and I know it is a blessing to many of His children. As long as we keep this at the upper most part of our minds, I think we will be doing what we are supposed to do.

I taught the lesson in RS on testimony. First we talked about the challenge to memorize the articles of faith we were given at the beginning of the year. A few members have been working on it. Then I asked why we should do this. I tried to develop the concept that as we kept saying the words "Creemos" or "We believe", it would challenge us to find out if we really do, hence helping us to develop a testimony. I know I cannot keep saying those words without thinking about my beliefs.

I had a very spiritual experience while bearing my testimony at the end of my lesson. I wish that would happen every time so that I could know that what I am saying is confirmed by the Holy Ghost, but it does not. I am very grateful when it does.

At sacrament meeting, several primary children bore their testimony as well as a couple of young women and Rodrigo, the only YM. He talked about how much he liked being a deacon. It was very sweet.

After church, I changed up the visiting teaching yet again to resolve some issues, and I will be going with Victoria Albarran, at least for a couple of months. I have 2 routes plus a bunch of mailing. Fanny is investigating, and it looks as though she will be baptized; that will be a big help.

It is hard to believe that soon I won't have to worry about that...

When I got home I had to put the beans on for nachos at Orion and Jac's house. They don't take that long in the pressure cooker. I had forgotten to soak them, and they were completely done after an hour. That helps people eat more nutritious foods if they know they can cook them faster.

We had a good FHE lesson at their home. Orion used the example from the new testament of the apostles who were called to leave their nets and follow the Savior to help us leave our own necessary nets behind. We are all to often willing to settle for our comfort zones. I guess that's how I feel about early morning seminary.

During the super bowl game, we drove over to see their new house. The inspection is today, and they will know then if they will be buying it. They are hoping to close at the end of the month. What an exciting thing for them! It is a very cute house.

I can hardly believe that all of our children will have their own home. I never would have anticipated such a thing. Roger and I did not have our own home until we moved here in 1985. We had been married 13 years! I am so proud of them. They all have nice homes, nicer than ours, so I suppose we have done our job (you know, that bit about the next generation being better than the one before it, not worse). They are all great men who have married wonderful women. I could not ask for more. I am truly a blessed mother in Zion.

reasons to NOT write

I'm thinking today and yesterday were those kinds of days that make me NOT want to write in my journal because my life is so darn boring. I have a lot of things to do, but none of them are too thrilling, especially not interesting enough to actually write about. But then, when I think of reading the things my grandmother did on a day to day basis, if she would have thought to write them down, it would have been interesting to me, and perhaps even helpful. So I will persevere. Anyone reading this can stop now if you'd like.

Monday, I needed to bake 4 more loaves as we had finished up what was left from the Friday baking after Lake City. I was going to take one to a sister who was home recovering from open heart surgery, but that will have to wait until Wednesday when I can go to Crescent City.

The bread was wonderful. I love the aroma. I wish I could bake every day just to smell it.

I made a brilliant discovery a few weeks ago during one of my bread-baking episodes. If I used latex gloves, I wouldn't get bread dough under my fingernails! It goes much faster now that I don't have too dig gook out from under my nails for 1/2 hour each rising...

I made a tuna noodle casserole for lunch because we have this partial bag of potato chips that is all smooshed up. It is driving me crazy, so I have been trying to think of something to make to use them up. The casserole was good, but I really don't make casseroles all that often.

Another problem I have is that I started alfalfa sprouts for the Lake City class but too late. They were still itty-bitty on Friday night. The problem is that NOW they are big, and I have way more than we will eat ever, no less before they go bad. So that was another wasteful undertaking. I have two full trays of the things. I should go hunt down Orion as I think he eats them. Dorian always called them horse food and refused to eat them, so I know I can't pawn any off on him. I don't recall if Darius eats them or not. If I had goats, they'd like them, that's for sure, and now that I think about it, the chickens will go absolutely crazy if I throw some in there, so that is what I will do before they go bad.

Now, that's what journals are good for -- helping you think through your problems. Didn't get too far with the potato chip problem, though. Wouldn't it be nice if that was all the serious our problems were - smooshed up potato chips and too many alfalfa sprouts?

I'm really cold, so I hope I can get this done quick. I'm too lazy to go put on some shoes so that my feet aren't so cold. Laziness is a terrible thing, it really is.

Dozens of phone calls yesterday. I hate talking on the phone.

So today, I left the house at 9:00 and didn't come home til 10:00 tonight. Still had to pick up 4 calls on the answering machine and several that came into my cell phone. I guess some kids to read the literature if they are able to find my cell phone number.

Last night while I was wasting time (time which I don't have, mind you, but I am very burned out right now), I found a dishcloth knit along group on the internet. Now this might seem like a silly thing to many people, but I adore knitting dishcloths. First, they are very fast. Second, I hate washing dishes, so knitting dishcloths makes me feel like I've done my duty. When I do work in the kitchen, knitted dishcloths are the only ones I will use. I make Roger use the few store bought ones that insist on hanging on. I guess when they finally die, he'll be allowed to use the older, faded knitted dishcloths. (You know I'm joking, but honestly, he really can't tell the difference, so he doesn't deserve to use the "good" ones.) (Actually, I'm just grateful he doesn't mind doing the dishes. I don't care which cloths he uses. Yeah, right!)

Anyway, I knit up the January dishcloth, and it is very pretty. I really needed a knitting night.

I was making buttermilk yesterday to replace what I used in my bread. When it should have been finished, I couldn't get the thermos open. Roger couldn't get the thermos open. Things were getting tense as all who know me can imagine. We tried for quite a while, and Roger thought to get an adjustable wrench. I had suspected that a vacuum had been created, but I was not prepared for how strong a one was there! When he released it, cottage cheese sprayed all over me and the kitchen (not him for some reason...am I sensing a pattern here?). I don't have any idea why this happened, but I'm not tense anymore...

I also made some chicken soup from the soup mix the home storage center used to sell. I love that particular soup. I don't know why I don't make it more often. I was going to make it to give to the sister with the bad heart, but we ate most of it, so I'll make her a new batch tomorrow. Here's the recipe:

1 cup of dry soup mix (lentils, split peas, alphabet macaroni, rice, onion, I don't know what else)
1 quart chicken broth

Let that cook until the beans are soft. Then I add a pint of canned chicken and a can of evaporated milk. More water if it needs it. That's it. It is really delicious. For a bigger family, you could use everything double except the chicken, and that would help stretch the meat. I don't think I double the milk either. Just the soup mix and broth.

Today, we did new enrollments for 3 new students, and I have one more tomorrow before our church meetings. We decided to get some things done in Jacksonville we weren't able to do last week. Roger had to get the van serviced. I can't find my 9 x 13 cake pan which I use all the time, so I bought 2 more. I also got a new silpat because we aren't eating store bought baked goods anymore, so I am baking cookies more and needed another silpat. We don't eat as many of the home made cookies as we did of the store bought, but we don't feel deprived if we have some. I make a big batch, make one tray, and freeze the rest of the dough. Then I pull off one tray's worth at a time, so we never have more than 8 cookies without having to go bake some more. Last night, we even had 2 cookies left over! Of course, if I am only baking one tray of cookies at a time, you may ask yourself why I needed another silpat. When I was in BBB, I was thinking there might be an occasion when I would need 2 trays, and I am very spoiled by my silpat lined baking sheets. Whenever I have to use parchment, I could just die!

I also bought some modge podge for Roger to cement his latest puzzle. I think I'm going to die of boredom! This means we will have to find somewhere to hang his latest puzzle. I'm going to have to pick more attractive art pieces in the puzzle department. Renoir, anyone?

Joann's had cotton yarn on sale 2/$3, so I bought some balls for the knitting class I have been asked to teach at church. Hobby Lobby had needles on sale, so I bought those there. Now my ladies will have the proper supplies. I couldn't bear to give them a list and have them all bring crappy stuff, incorrect stuff, and no stuff at all saying, "I'll just watch..." It's just easier this way. Oh, quitcherbitchin, you don't have to pay for it.

We're going to start out with dishcloths, just garter stitch. I think I'll even cast on for them, and they can learn that later. They want to make socks, but that is not a good first project. Dishcloths are functional. We've already been through all that. They won't be happy, but I'm not going to start with socks when they don't even know how to knit.

I also got my new favorite knitting book rebound. I read about this on my sock list. Orion did it at Kinko's and it is only a couple of bucks. He said he has thought about rebinding his church manuals; I hadn't thought of that, but it is a good idea. None of those books want to sit flat when they are open. Then you've got to juggle them while you look something up in the scriptures.

I also had to buy a bunch of paper for February newsletter and bulletin bored, I mean board...I am not into decorating.

I have been thinking about asking to teach seminary again next year. I've been thinking about it for several weeks. I was asked if I thought I could handle it last year, but it was decided I couldn't if I was still Relief Society President, and he didn't want to release me yet. I'm thinking I might be ready for that change now.

Something that has been really bothering me is how poorly the Spanish members' kids are doing in school. I have been trying to think of a way to help them since that is what I do. I guess I'm thinking seminary might help in some way.