Music, Teaching, Crocheting, Messenger and Great Grandmonsters...

Friday, January 26th, was a day of healing. I felt grateful to live in a place where I have clean running water whenever I want. I remember this when I step in that shower to take as long as I like getting clean. So many places in the world, this is not the case. 

The working part of this day was at my laptop putting the final outline together for the Relief Society lesson I would teach on Sunday. I finished all the granny squares for the baby afghan I have been working on. This day I started putting them in strips and joining the strips together. 

Saturday, January 27th, I was up before Claude and put another strip together and attached it to the afghan. Then I went to Sandiland to work on a PowerPoint for my Relief Society lesson. 

In the evening we drove to the University of Louisville School of Music. Our Bailey was participating in the University of Louisville School of Music 2024 Invitation Honor Band. Bailey would perform with the Symphonic Band. When they arrive on Friday morning, they have some time of screening or testing. Then they place the student in the Concert Band, Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble. To my observation, this is the level at which you can play. The students are given their music on Friday morning. They will rehearse all day on Friday and during the day on Saturday. Saturday evening is concert time to perform the music you have learned. The conductors for each band are from the music staff at University of Louisville. The music selected is intended to stretch the students skill level a little bit more. The high school sending students to participate were from Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. The kids get to meet like minded students from all over and learn great music. There are only upsides to this experience. 

The concert was excellent. The Symphonic Band would play:

• Selections from "The Danserye", I, La Morisque
• American Hymnsong Suite, II. Balm in Gilead
• Halcyon Hearts
• Korean Folksongs from Jeju Island, III. Celebration on Halla Mountain

Here are the many faces of Bailey on this evening.

Sunday, January 28th, I was the teacher for the Elkhorn Creek Relief Society. Our lesson was from the October 2023 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The talk was given by Pres. Henry B. Eyring and was titled "Our Constant Companion". The end of 2023 we had a lesson taught by Elizabeth Christensen on the Holy Ghost. As she taught, I was concerned having another lesson on the Holy Ghost so close. However, as I studied and read Pres. Eyring's talk, I realized the focus of this lesson was on how we maintain having the Holy Ghost as our constant companion. 

When Pres. Eyring gave this talk last October, I remember being so impressed as he started it out as a letter to his descendants. He said it was something he felt most important for them as they face the difficult days ahead. It was a gift he could leave to them. I loved that. So I started my lesson with a brief description of Bea Marx. We had attended her funeral and she had such a strong influence on Michael, on Claude and me, on the handyman that stood next to me at the funeral. She left lessons with each of us. I shared that story, then gave out a card that was a letter to your descendants. I gave the sisters a few minutes to think of what they would share that could help their descendants. It could be anything. But they each needed to write at least one item on their card. Then I went into the lesson from Pres. Eyring's talk. I did not ask the sisters to share what they wrote. I wanted them simply to be in the frame of mind to understand why Pres. Eyring felt so impressed to share this with his descendants and us. 

This my lesson. It is an important one for our day. Pres. Eyring covered 4 things we can do to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Then he bore his testimony. I first shared Parker Risher's testimony. Parker is a newly serving missionary for the Church serving in the Colorado Spring area. 

Our Constant Companion

By President Henry B. Eyring

 Bea’s Funeral: Feelings & Lessons she taught

 Activity:       A Brief Letter to My Descendants

Pres. Russell M. Nelson’s warning, April 2018 General Conference, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”

          “Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”

Because of that prophetic warning, Pres. Eyring pondered what he might teach his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren about how to have that crucial guidance in the difficult days ahead for them.

Pres. Eyring was touched by the testimonies borne in the October General Conference. He knew the Lord speaks to us personally through the Holy Ghost. As we pray and then heed the Spirit’s promptings, we gain greater insights and blessings to guide us through the increasingly difficult days ahead.

In his personal life, Pres. Eyring has learned to better understand what it will take to have the constant influence of the Holy Ghost in these days. He then shared his personal experience of inviting the Holy Ghost, as nearly as he could, to be his constant companion.

#1)

Helaman’s sons, Nephi & Lehi, and the other servants of the Lord laboring with them.

·       Alma, Alma², Helaman, Helaman², Nephi & Lehi.

·       Gadianton Robbers, Nephi becomes Judge, Gives up Judges Seat to preach the Gospel, Nephi and Lehi imprisoned, fire encircles them, converse with angels, Righteous Lamanites preach to wicked Nephites, Gadianton Robbers take over Nephite government, Nephi prayers from his garden tower, Nephi tells them the chief judge is murdered and who did it, Nephi is accepted by some as a prophet. Nephi is empowered with sealing power, Famine, People repent, Rain comes

·       Helaman 11:23 “And in the seventy and ninth year there began to be much strife. But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of their brethren who knew concerning the true points of doctrine, having many revelations daily, therefore they did preach unto the people, insomuch that they did put an end to their strife in that same year.”

·       Helaman’s sons were taught and guided by a series of experiences with the Holy Ghost. This assures me that we can be taught by and learn from the Spirit line upon line, receiving what we need, and then when we are ready, we will receive more.

#2)

Nephi being asked to go back to Jerusalem for the plates of Laban.

·       1 Nephi 3:7 … “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.”

·       Nephi’s experience gives Pres. Eyring courage when he has embarked on assignments that were beyond his past experience or his capacity.

·       1 Nephi 4:6 “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.”

Pres. Eyring was encouraged by knowing that Nephi was guided by the Spirit minute by minute through the night on the Lord’s errand.

#3)

The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is not easy to achieve. We each think and say and do things in our daily lives that can offend the Spirit. When that happens, we may feel disapproval from the Lord. We may feel we are alone.

·       Remember the sure promise we receive each week as we repent and partake of the sacrament: “That they may always have his Spirit to be with them.” (D&C 20:77)

·       If you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost today, you may take it as a sweet evidence that the Atonement is working in your life.

·       Pres. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better”, May 2019
 “Daily repentance is the pathway to purity, and purity brings power.”

·       If you find yourself having difficulty in feeling the Holy Ghost, you might ponder whether there is anything for which you might repent and receive forgiveness.

2 Nephi 26:11 “For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.”

·       Joy D. Jones, “Value beyond Measure”, Ensign, Nov 2017

               Imagine that you are reading the scriptures one morning and the Spirit softly whispers to you that what you are reading is true. Can you recognize the Spirit and be happy that you felt His love and were worthy to receive?

     The feeling is brief, but you recognize that you, at that moment, are counted worthy to receive.

#4)

If you want to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost, you must want it for the right reasons. Your purposes must be the Lord’s purposes.

Pattern of a Prophet:

·       I try to remember the Savior’s sacrifice and His love for me.

·       Then, when I pray to Heavenly Father to give thanks,

·       I feel love and assurance that my prayers are heard and that I will receive whatever is best for me and those I love. (Walking by FAITH)

·       It strengthens my testimony.

Of all the things of which the Holy Ghost testifies, the most precious for us is that Jesus is the Christ, the living Son of God.

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

What is one thing you can do today to invite the Holy Ghost into your life?

What changes in your personal life would enable you to have the influence of the Holy Ghost more constantly?

·       Gregory A. Schwitzer, “Developing Good Judgment and Not Judging Others”, Ensign, May 2010, 105 (Quoting Joseph B. Worthlin)

     “We are given the gift of the Holy Ghost after our baptism, but often we leave this gift on the shelf, forgetting that He will help us in the most important judgments of our lives. The Lord gave us this gift, knowing we would face difficult decisions in life. Listening to this voice is vital in developing good judgment. A relationship of listening often requires a quiet environment in which we can take time to ponder and hear the still, small voice. This peaceful environment is both external and internal.”

          "Observed how easily we fill our lives with “appointments, meetings, and tasks” and then act frightened at the prospect of some quiet time. Why would that be? He feared that we might “feel that the busier we are, the more important we are—as though our busyness defines our worth.” On another occasion, he reminded us that “being busy is not necessarily being spiritual”—for in fact, noise and busyness can actually crowd out the still, small voice of the Spirit.”

TESTIMONY:

Parker Risher parker.risher@missionary.org, Jan 18, 2024, 5:26 PM (2 days ago)

     The past two weeks have been so good for me and my character growth. I've had so many opportunities to lead by example and invite others to do the same. I've had multiple chances to help others in trying times and even got to give my first blessing! Oh my goodness was that just the best experience ever! I could genuinely feel the spirit flowing through me. It's like I was having an actual conversation with God. I've learned by some trial and error how to rely on the spirit here. Definitely my biggest take away from the MTC. I'm a plan freak and I over stress everything but if you want to speak by the spirit you have to let go of all that and trust in the lord. That requires being worthy of the spirit and having faith that it will inspire you as to what you should do and say in the moment. I can testify that it will.I testify that the Lord has kept His promise. The Holy Ghost is being sent to the faithful covenant members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Now, your experiences will be unique, and the Spirit will guide in the way best suited to your faith and capacity to receive revelation for you and for those you love and serve. I pray with all my heart that your confidence will grow.

·       President James E. Faust
     An important part of the spiritual being within all of us is the quiet and sacred part from which we may feel a sanctification in our lives.  It is that part of us wherein no other soul may intrude.  It is that part that permits us to come close to the divine, both in and out of this world.  This portion of our beings is reserved only for ourselves and our Creator.  We open the portals thereof when we pray.  It is here where we may retreat and meditate.  It is possible for the Holy Ghost to abide in this special part of us.  It is a place of special communion.  It is the master cell of our spiritual battery.

·       James J. Hamula, “The Divine Power of Grace”, Ensign, Dec 2016
     Elder Orson Pratt (1811–81) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “whenever the Holy Ghost takes up its residence in a person, it not only cleanses, sanctifies, and purifies him, in proportion as he yields himself to its influence, but also imparts to him some gift, intended for the benefit of himself and others. … These spiritual gifts are distributed among the members of the Church, according to their faithfulness, circumstances, natural abilities, duties, and callings; that the whole may be properly instructed, confirmed, perfected, and saved.”

In the afternoon, I received a phone call from Vickie Drakeford. Wendell Drakeford was our realtor when we purchased our home in Georgetown and sold our home Sadieville. His wife, Vickie, was his sidekick through the entire process. We received an eMail from Brad Manwaring, our friend who introduced us to Wendell and Vickie, telling us Wendell was very ill. Vickie was calling to check in. Wendell has Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He is not doing well at all. He has lost about 50 pounds. Vickie is holding up okay. This seems to be around is stomach area and no where else. My heart aches for these sweet people. It was good to visit with Vickie. 

The other thing that is happening is Raelyn learning to use her tablet to send me messages. She has learned to draw pictures, then send me a picture of the picture she drew. I am to guess what she has drawn. Raelyn is extremely happy to converse with her great grandmother in this way. I didn't even know my great grandmothers!

Monday, January 29th, Claude and I filled our day quite nicely. We started our day with a grocery store run together. Then I did the washing. Still have the ironing to do. I also got the Relief Society newsletter for February ready for review by the president. I ordered us tickets for a Cirque du Soliel show in Lexington in August. And, I ordered the t-shirts for our March birthday gifts and picked out the ones I want to order the rest of the year. In the evening, I finished the baby afghan.

While trying to finish the baby afghan, I recieved a strange ring on my cellphone. I truly do not get many calls. I recognized this ring and someone wanted to video chat. It seems Miss Raelyn has figured out how to video chat with her tablet using messenger. Soon all three great grandmonsters were in the picture and Katelyn was trying to tell the girls they were supposed to be cleaning the living room. I tried to encourage that effort. We had a vibrant chat and they were off to help clean some of the toys in Joel's room. Isn't technology wonderful!

Tuesday, January 30th, is a stay-in-the-house-and-out-of-the-rain kind of day. I am clearing some things off my phone and getting some laptop things done. I may work on cleaning out picture files this afternoon. Wish me luck in that effort. I have so many duplicates and want to really clean that up.

Music, Bea's Funeral...

Sunday, January 21st, the Relief Society was invited to sing a special number in Sacrament Meeting. We had a small group of sisters that participated. We sang "Mid Pleasures and Palaces". This was in the previous LDS Hymnal but was not included in the 1985 version. It was written for a female chorus in three part harmony. We practiced the two Sundays previous right after church. Elizabeth Christensen was the accompanist. Those participating left to right in the second picture are: Sandi Christensen, Camille Bennett, Jenessa Dymock, Beatrice___, Camille Klein, Laynie Barney, Heidi Barney, Jenna Potter, Jenna Thacker, Jennifer Squire, Sasha Friley. 

When I left the stand to return to my seat after the number, I could see Claude with his eyes full of tears. Clearly, he was touched by this chorus. 

The cute thing was giving this to these sisters for the first time. Look closely at the picture. I could be every one of these sister's mother. Elizabeth is 5 years older than me. Needless to say, none of the young ladies had heard this song before. They immediately talked about how old it was. Elizabeth and I had a grin about that. The second week when we practiced, I shared a quote I read that week in my Liahona magazine. The article was entitled 'Spiritual Skills for Surviving the Last Days" by Merrilee Browne Boyack. "Create a home that is place of security...Having places of security to which you can retreat will help you embrace the future with faith. In addition to our temples and meetinghouses, our homes will be critical places of spiritual strength, protection, and peace in the last days. We must make every effort to fill our homes with the Spirit to offer this protection for our families." After reading this quote, I shared how Claude and I were going to Italy in February. We would see marvelous buildings and homes. We would enjoy all of this tremendously. But nothing will feel so good and returning to our little home after the amazing trip and curling up in our own bed again. That is what this song is about. Our little cottage, however big or small it may be, is our place of security, peace and renewal. The sisters got it and were ready to practice this "OLD" song the second week. 

Monday, January 22nd, Claude and I were up and out the door about 7am. This day was a travel day back to Maryland. The reason for the trip was the passing of Michael's, our son-in-law, grandmother, Bea Marx. We wanted to attend her funeral. We enjoyed this view as we pointed the Buick east.

We would stop in Lavale, Maryland where Fred and Bevy Myers would join us for a nice lunch. We were there after 1:30pm. It is always good to meet and catch up with these dear friends. Then we headed to our hotel in Rockville, Maryland. We would stay in the Best Western on Hwy 28. It turned out to be the best hotel for a trip to Maryland. It has very easy access to I-270 either direction which then gets you to the Beltway or any other highway you need to get around the DC area. We thought we would maybe have dinner with Andie and Michael but chose to drive-thru Chick-fil-A instead. It was dark and we were tired. 

I checked in with text to Bailey and Hayden. Bailey sent me this picture of stuffed shells she made herself for her dinner. I assured Bailey I thought they were amazing. I told her Grampa was impressed. Bailey's response, "As he should be." She then said she would have to cook for us some time. 

Andie and Michael drove to Maryland on Sunday. They would stay with Joyce Romanoff, Michael's stepmother. They would spend Monday helping Ken, Michael's dad, empty out Bea's apartment at the senior living community. Brian, Michael's brother, would help them. This turned up a treasure that Andie would show me the next day before the funeral. Bea was highly organized. She had labels on everything. Andie found a little pocket tablet. Bea put labels on it and recorded all her VHS tapes. The first portion was alphabetical listing the movies. There was another section for musicals, etc. I have all our DVD's on an Excel spreadsheet which is printed out and in the piano bench. When someone visits, I can give the sheet to pick out a movie they might enjoy watching. They also found a place with Ziplock bags for each month. In the bag was the cards to be sent to whomever had a birthday or anniversary the month. If Bea thought of something she wanted to remember to say in the card, she would put a draft of that thought in the card for when she actually wrote in the card. Highly organized. Andie knew I would appreciate this. That little notebook is really a story about Bea. 

Monday night Michael and Andie gathered with his siblings at Ledo's Pizza for dinner. John Nazarro was their server. John is a dear friend from Michael's childhood. It was a great time to catch up with John and the siblings. Andie took this picture of Michael, John and Brian (Michael's brother). 

Tuesday, January 23rd, was the funeral. It would be a graveside service at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery. This cemetery is also called Washington but there is a large section of it that is the Jewish section. 

This was a very sweet, very traditional Jewish service. We went to Henry's, Bea's husband, service years ago. It was held in a funeral home. I don't remember much about it so this was a good memory boost for me. We were blessed with temperatures in the high 40's and a clear day. The ground still had snow on it so paths had been cleared for us to walk but the ground was soggy in placed and hard in others for a very uneven walk. The tent was up for family to sit under with grass-like carpeting to walk on and some sheets of plywood. Again, the ground underneath was very uneven. With the ground like this, Ken fell before the serve and most people even arrived. They got him up and in a chair. He didn't hurt anything, Thank Goodness. 

Bea was 101 years old. Her brother lived in an apartment near her. He is 96 years old. He was able to attend the service. It was heartwarming to watch Michael and other friends and family carry Charlie from his car up the walk to the tent while others removed a chair to make a place for Charlie's wheelchair. 

Ken is in the blue coat with the stocking cap on his head. Standing in front of him is Derrick Romanoff (a stepson), Michael to the back, and John Nazarro shaking Ken's hand. The lady who would officiate and is probably a female rabbi is in the pink hat to the right. Jennifer is the female to the right with her arms folded to be warm. She is Michael's sister.

In this picture they are getting the casket out of the hearse by grandchildren. Two men at the front are workers at the cemetery. They have a cart they are pulling. The rabbi is to the left with a book in her hand reading in Hebrew as they remove the casket from the hearse and as the walk it to the cemetery plot. 

The grandchildren moving the casket into place over the gravesite. Michael is in the front left. It is interesting to note that the casket is a plain wooden casket. It had a wooden Star of David on the top. That was all ornamentation other than the handles with which to carry it. Henry was also buried in a wooden casket. One of the tenets of the Jewish faith is the belief we are created from dust and to dust we are destined to return. The body has to return to the earth as soon as possible. With a simple pine casket, it will be a natural decomposition of wood. Burial is intended to take place in as short an interval of time after death as possible. Embalming and cremation are forbidden in the strict Jewish law. 

This is the rabbi conducting the service and explaining that it will be a traditional Jewish service. She was very gentle and kind to everyone and the family as they participated and needed to change things to accommodate them. When she did the 'cantor' portions where a prayer would be sung, I realized how monotone they seem to me. There is inflection. The notes do go up and down but not a lot. I think I like when a male voice does this better. More resonance. 

The rabbi explained that an important part of the Jewish service was the family sharing the obituary of the deceased. Ken would speak first. His remarks he said were intended to be humorous and show the life of Bea through that lens. He assured us Marian's remarks would be more serious. Ken simply wrote words or phrases that were like adjectives of Bea as a person. Some we all nodded in agreement. Some we chuckled with amusement. Some we laughed out loud. It was a touching tribute to his mother. 

These pictures are of Marian Lerner. She is Ken's sister and Bea's daughter. This was a very emotional experience for her. She was having a difficult time getting through the passing of her mother and this funeral. In the first two pictures she is pointing out jewelry. She wore earrings from her sister, Susan, who has already passed away, and a necklace that was her mother's. She wanted everyone to know they were present with these actions. Marian shared experiences she and her mother had, trips they had taken together. It was personal and let everyone have a good glimpse into Bea. Again, we felt emotional at times and then laughed at times. All these things are healing to me. The third picture has Marian with her son on the left and her hubby, Mark, on the right. 

Then Charlie said he wanted to speak. This was not on the program. The rabbi made sure he had time to speak. Family moved his wheelchair so he was facing the group. His daughter is standing to the left. Derrick is on the left and Brian is on his right. Charlie's voice is very soft and he speaks very slowly. But he shared how close he was to Bea through the years. He shared experiences of their childhood. Their parents had a market with a store window. He and Bea, as children, would stand in that store window and do the jitterbug. People would line up to watch their two kids dance together. He will miss Bea. They loved watching those VHS tapes together. 

The rabbi then explained the tradition of placing soil on the grave. The ground was clearly frozen where the pile of soil from the grave was located. A large bucket of soil had been placed by the grave and it would serve the purpose for Bea's funeral. The rabbi explained that Israel is dear to Jews all over the world. A vial of soil from Israel was first poured into the plot by the rabbi so that Bea would have some of Israel's soil with her. Then the rabbi share about everyone who wanted to helping to place soil into Bea's grave. This is done in a particular way. The hand spade is used but it is used upside down. This is because we want to keep our loved one with us as long as possible. This is a difficult thing to let go. So, the soil is taken from the bucket (in this case) with the spade upside down. To further emphasize this slowness in parting, the spade is emptied into the grave using a backhand motion. Then the spade is laid back on the ground before the next person uses it. It is never handed to the next person. Henry was left near the casket and would be the first to put soil into his sisters grave. Love how the family helped him so he had this parting gesture of care for his sister. 

Michael would place soil in his grandmother's grave. 

There were prayers and readings throughout the service. Usually, they were done in Hebrew and then in English. At the end, a final prayer, the Kaddish, is read by the closest of family. They were given the prayer and it was read in Hebrew. This our Michael reading that prayer in Hebrew. I have heard Michael speak in Hebrew before and loved hearing that. It was good to see him embrace this part of his faith for his grandmother. 

When the portion of the service around the gravesite was finished, we were asked to form two lines leaving the gravesite to the cars. The immediate family would pass through those two lines and we were to say something in Hebrew. Now, that was not going to happen because it was a long phrase and I can't remember that much for that long. The rabbi gave us the English version. Basically, we all shook hands with the family as they walked between us. Marian was supported by Mark, her hubby. As she got to Claude and I she looked with a questioning look at us, then her eyes showed that she was remembering, the tears flowed as she realized we drove over from Kentucky for this service. I just held her hand and told her we loved Bea and Henry, and we loved their family. Tender moment. 

I noticed people placing rocks on a headstone near the gravesite. I recognized the names. This is Bea's mother and father's headstone, Milton and Esther Brotman. 

Andie and Michael attended something with the family. This was on display. It is a picture of Bea and Henry. Way cool. 

We would leave the cemetery and Michael and Andie to be with his family. With his sister living in London, his brother in Florida, and Michael in Kentucky, they really don't see each other often. Not to mention his father who lives part-time in Florida and part-time in Maryland. So, Claude and I truly felt they needed to have as much family time as they could these few days. There would be a meal served at the synagogue for family and friends. In the evening, everyone would go to Mark and Marian's home for an evening meal and visit. 

Claude and I drove to Arlington, Virginia. We would pass the Washington DC Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Our destination was the Italian Store for our much-loved sandwich, the Milano. Oh, it was yummy. 

With the cold and snow, we decided to go back to our hotel and rest a bit. I searched for places to get crab cakes. I mean, really, Maryland is for crabs!! I also sent Andie a text. She suggested a place called G&M in Linthicum, Maryland. We drove there via a new road to us that cuts across the counties and avoids the Beltway. It is a toll road, but that traffic moved and we were happy about that. We had a huge meal that was delicious. My crab cake meal is pictured with my dinner fork at the top of my plate to show the size of the crab cakes. Claude's meal had a smaller crab cake as well as a sampling of other seafoods. We did NOT have dessert. 

I ended up being ill all night long. 

Wednesday, January 24th, we slept in a bit. Our plan was to take this day and do something fun. Well, I didn't feel good still and simply wanted my home. Rain was in the forecast for the entire area we would be in for this day and Thursday. So we pointed the Buick north to Hagerstown and picked up I-81 south to I-64 and went home that way. At least we would see some different scenery. We stopped outside Huntington, WV to dinner and to fill the car with gasoline. Claude would also stop at Walmart so I could pick up some baby yarn to finish a project. Our Georgetown Walmart had none. It was a good drive and we got home at 8:30 in the evening. We unpacked and plopped ourselves in the living room to catch up on Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. We are old!! I worked with my yarn to get some more squares finished on the baby afghan. 

Thursday, January 25th, the morning was foggy. There was the promise of rain through the afternoon and evening. We stayed inside so I could rest up another day. I would work on a few things on my laptop and crochet some more. A quiet day to heal is such a blessing.

Life is good. Family is important. Home is important. I feel richly blessed!