The other day Andie found her looking through it at the pictures. She pointed to one and said to Andie, "Hers up in heaven." Bailey was refering to Mini who passed away about a month after her graduation.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Tender Bailey Moment...
When Bailey graduated from St. John's Pre-school this year, she was given a picture Bible.
The other day Andie found her looking through it at the pictures. She pointed to one and said to Andie, "Hers up in heaven." Bailey was refering to Mini who passed away about a month after her graduation.
The picture on the left has God sitting on a throne surrounded by angels. On the right is white gates leading to a heavenly city. Sweet little Bailey understands that Mimi has gone to a better place and this pleases me no end. I'm sure it pleases Mimi also.
The other day Andie found her looking through it at the pictures. She pointed to one and said to Andie, "Hers up in heaven." Bailey was refering to Mini who passed away about a month after her graduation.
Halloween 2012...
This will be the first Halloween since Hayden & Bailey were born that I haven't made one of their costumes. Feels a little strange but did not dim my eagerness to see them in their costumes. Hayden was to be Harry Potter. Bailey was to be Merida from the movie Brave. Andie sent me a picture of them dressed this weekend for a Halloween party at friends.
Now that is just cute!!!
Sadieville Honors...
Friday, October 26th we attended the breakfast meeting of Bluegrass Tomorrow held at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington, Kentucky. This was the annual meeting where Bluegrass Tomorrow presents their Vision Awards in five different catagories. Sadieville received the 2012 Vision Award in the catagory of Conservation Corridors. The purpose is to recognize Sadieville in their efforts to extend the Legacy Trail north in cooperation with the Kentucky Horse Park, Scott & Fayette Counties, and the cities of Lexington, Georgetown and into northern Scott County with Sadieville being a 'trail head'.
Receiving the award in the center are Cindy Foster, Sadieville City Clerk, and Claude Christensen, Mayor of Sadieville (and my hubby).
This picture includes Roy Cornett owner of the Eagle Creek Horse Motel in Hwy. 25 in Sadieville and the one with the initial drive and determination to have the trail come all the way to Sadieville. He has organized the meetings and gotten the grass roots effort going and maintaining that effort. He has actually built trails in other cities in Kentucky and is also the president of a 'trails' organization. We are grateful to him for all he has done.
It was and is a great honor to have our little city of 303 people honored in such a way. We appreciate Bluegrass Tomorrow for recognizing the hard work that has happened during the last year.
On a side note, Sadieville has received a large grant to install a waterless toilet at the tail head in Sadieville. We just keep having sewer action in our little 'ville'.
It was and is a great honor to have our little city of 303 people honored in such a way. We appreciate Bluegrass Tomorrow for recognizing the hard work that has happened during the last year.
On a side note, Sadieville has received a large grant to install a waterless toilet at the tail head in Sadieville. We just keep having sewer action in our little 'ville'.
Friday, October 26, 2012
I Don't Wanna Grow Up...
There is always a little kid in each of us...and it loves to burst out and enjoy the moment.
Thursday night we had a wonderful Institute class. We spent an hour and a half on the trials and crucifixion of Jesus. We used all four Gospels and read the story start to finish in segments. I shared pictures I took in Israel of some of the sites we studied, insights about practices of the day, a map study of the places in our lesson, the background of characters in the story and many other things.
However, I asked at the beginning that each student concentrate on new things they learned or feelings the had as we read or how the record shows us lessons we can apply in our own lives today. Then I wanted and hoped they would share those feelings with each of us. I assured them, if they did not participate in this fashion, we would be done in 30 minutes. We all had a chuckle.
We began our reading and the verses I chose during my preparation that covers each part of the story. We read each part separately. These were the individual sections of the story we read and discussed after each reading: arrest in Gethsemane; before Anna; before Caiaphas; Peter's denial; before the Sanhedrin again; Judas hanging; then to Pilate; next to Herod Antipas; back to Pilate; sentencing; scourging; and crucifixion. Lots of ground to cover. It didn't take long before they were each willing to share insights, knowledge they treasured from previous study, ways to apply the teachings in our lives and the list goes on. It was a wonderful time together and that hour and a half passed way too quickly.
I bore my testimony. Brenna called on a closing prayer. Allison's prayer was very tender. Then...
I asked them to stay seated just a minute after the prayer. Each week I bring a sweet treat for them to eat as we mingle, put away tables and chairs and I pack up my gear and lock doors. Thursday night, since I wouldn't see them again before Halloween, I made each of them a little Halloween treat bag with 8 little pieces of candy. I picked up my big bag full of their little bags and apologized for ruining such a beautiful spirit in the class. Then I told them I had a Trick-or-Treat bag for each of them. I heard from their mouths a collective 'awww!!!'. Suddenly they were kids again and you would have thought they were receiving the moon. I just chuckled and gave eacy young adult their Trick-or-Treat bag and immediately heard them opening to check what kind of candy treats they got. It was just pure fun.
I just want to remember that life is to be filled with all the wonderful positive emotions and experiences we can pack in it. What a joy it was to share with these young people the peace the Spirit brings when we study the word of God. And I also want to remember the joy brought by a little bag of candy at a fun time of year. I'm blessed.
Thursday night we had a wonderful Institute class. We spent an hour and a half on the trials and crucifixion of Jesus. We used all four Gospels and read the story start to finish in segments. I shared pictures I took in Israel of some of the sites we studied, insights about practices of the day, a map study of the places in our lesson, the background of characters in the story and many other things.
However, I asked at the beginning that each student concentrate on new things they learned or feelings the had as we read or how the record shows us lessons we can apply in our own lives today. Then I wanted and hoped they would share those feelings with each of us. I assured them, if they did not participate in this fashion, we would be done in 30 minutes. We all had a chuckle.
We began our reading and the verses I chose during my preparation that covers each part of the story. We read each part separately. These were the individual sections of the story we read and discussed after each reading: arrest in Gethsemane; before Anna; before Caiaphas; Peter's denial; before the Sanhedrin again; Judas hanging; then to Pilate; next to Herod Antipas; back to Pilate; sentencing; scourging; and crucifixion. Lots of ground to cover. It didn't take long before they were each willing to share insights, knowledge they treasured from previous study, ways to apply the teachings in our lives and the list goes on. It was a wonderful time together and that hour and a half passed way too quickly.
I bore my testimony. Brenna called on a closing prayer. Allison's prayer was very tender. Then...
I asked them to stay seated just a minute after the prayer. Each week I bring a sweet treat for them to eat as we mingle, put away tables and chairs and I pack up my gear and lock doors. Thursday night, since I wouldn't see them again before Halloween, I made each of them a little Halloween treat bag with 8 little pieces of candy. I picked up my big bag full of their little bags and apologized for ruining such a beautiful spirit in the class. Then I told them I had a Trick-or-Treat bag for each of them. I heard from their mouths a collective 'awww!!!'. Suddenly they were kids again and you would have thought they were receiving the moon. I just chuckled and gave eacy young adult their Trick-or-Treat bag and immediately heard them opening to check what kind of candy treats they got. It was just pure fun.
I just want to remember that life is to be filled with all the wonderful positive emotions and experiences we can pack in it. What a joy it was to share with these young people the peace the Spirit brings when we study the word of God. And I also want to remember the joy brought by a little bag of candy at a fun time of year. I'm blessed.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
I Feel Thrifty, Oh So Thrifty...
I feel thirty and witty and bright, and I'm happy with the things that make my home just right...
Did you sing along with that one?
Here's the reason I'm singing...
We are blessed to have a bathroom in our pantry. I needed to replace the hand towels in that room.
While in Kohl's I browsed the linen section and came across these hand towels that were a nice color for where I wanted them and they were on the really, really bargain shelf. "They were only $3 each. I purchased them.
When I got home, I searched my basket with lace and trim I've collected over the years. I found this piece of interesting trim and there was just enough to add to each of my plain hand towels. I stitched this trim on and am very happy with the results. At Kohl's they were selling handtowels with trim like this for $25 a towel!!! Good grief that is excessive. My $12 for the lot towels are just as nice and I have the satisfaction of knowing I did some of it all by myself for our home.
I feel 'thrifty'!!
Did you sing along with that one?
Here's the reason I'm singing...
While in Kohl's I browsed the linen section and came across these hand towels that were a nice color for where I wanted them and they were on the really, really bargain shelf. "They were only $3 each. I purchased them.
When I got home, I searched my basket with lace and trim I've collected over the years. I found this piece of interesting trim and there was just enough to add to each of my plain hand towels. I stitched this trim on and am very happy with the results. At Kohl's they were selling handtowels with trim like this for $25 a towel!!! Good grief that is excessive. My $12 for the lot towels are just as nice and I have the satisfaction of knowing I did some of it all by myself for our home.
I feel 'thrifty'!!
Bailey Loves Her "Pa"...
We received a letter from Andie in the mail. It was address to Claude from Bailey. But it was definitely Andie's handwriting. When Claude opened the envelope there was another envelope inside with Bailey's handwriting. She signed her name and wrote "To Pa". Inside that envelope were all these pieces of paper obviously cut by a child with scissors and the paper had a picture drawn on it prior to the cutting.
In the rush of trying to get out of the house to do all that madness that was yesterday, Claude sent Bailey an eMail thanking her for the letter.
This morning before we left to head to Georgetown Claude was moving things around in the car and garage. I took that opportunity to open each little piece of paper and put the pieces together to form the picture. Bailey made a picture and cut it into a puzzle for her Pa.
What a treasure. Bailey does love her Pa (Claude). And Claude was very touched by this tender act of Bailey. Being a grandparent is just the best.
In the rush of trying to get out of the house to do all that madness that was yesterday, Claude sent Bailey an eMail thanking her for the letter.
This morning before we left to head to Georgetown Claude was moving things around in the car and garage. I took that opportunity to open each little piece of paper and put the pieces together to form the picture. Bailey made a picture and cut it into a puzzle for her Pa.
Sometimes...Life is NOT a Box of Chocolates...
Sometimes it is more like a cage at the zoo...
My last week has definitely been more like a cage at the zoo!!
Monday the 15th of October I spent the morning taking my father to the doctor. They found an 'irregular nodule' when he had his colonoscopy and he was referred to a urologist. I became quite concerned when Papa was filling out his medical history forms for this new doctor. He couldn't remember he had a triple bi-pass surgery many years ago. We made it through the check and are moving on to a blood test needed next. Then the urologist will combine that information and determine what to do next.
Tuesday the 16th of October Claude and I were supposed to go to the Family History Center for our 4 hour shift. Claude ended up with a meeting in Sadieville to determined the future of our little post office. I called Papa and he said he would go with me. Now, if that isn't the blind leading the blind to cover that shift, I truly do not know what is. I picked Papa up and we had a good time together. I drove him home on the back roads and bought him lunch at Long John Silvers on the way home. Then I left him to get some shopping done for Christmas and to purchase groceries. I returned to Papa's home to pick up Tiny. Papa wanted to make a drive on Wednesday to Nashville and I was going to keep Tiny for him to do that. Tiny and I journeyed to Sadieville where she settled in just fine for her visit. Claude's post office meeting went great. There were 40 residents there to voice their opinion. We only look a little time that the post office will be open which is not a biggy necessarily. We also add a full time post master and keep the rural routes we have. Yeah!! All of northern Scott County, Kentucky can be happy about the success of that meeting.
Wednesday the 17th of October I filled my morning with home chores and the afternoon back in Georgetown to play a DVD for the nursing home residents of a country music show from very long ago. Then back to Sadieville to help Claude set up the Rosenwald school for a meeting to be held there the next morning. In the evening I made muffins for him to take to the early morning meeting the next day.
Thursday the 18th of October I finished up my Institute lesson and spent the afternoon taking Tiny back to Papa, practicing the organ at Church and finding a nice sandwich at Arby's where I read my novel for a while. In the evening I taught my Institute class. I went in early because a young woman was being baptized before our class.
Friday the 19th of October I visited a friend from Church in the morning and then came home drained. I was actually experiencing some feelings of depression that were not going away. Every now and then we all have a blue day. This feeling I had for several days and it was hanging on and I couldn't seem to shake it. I determined I was going to curl up and read my book. I borrowed the novel "Exodus" from the library and it was due. I renewed the loan and curled up to read my book. It felt so good to put on thick socks and warm clothes and a sweat shirt, grab a fleece blanket and snuggle under it as I read.
Saturday the 20th of October I enjoyed my reading experience so much that I determined I would do that again. Claude declared Saturday a pajama day since we didn't have to go anywhere. So I curled up and read all day. In the evening we did get up, get dressed and headed in to Lexington to Logan's Roadhouse for dinner. Claude was steak hungry. Alas, I'm not the carnivore he is so I enjoyed a nice salmon dinner. Stuffed, we determined we should walk some of that dinner off. Where to go, where to go. I remembered there was a Garden Ridge store in that part of Hamburg Pavilion so we headed there to walk around for a while. Imagine my joy at entering and finding Christmas silk poinsettias and artificial trees lining the walk into the store. These trees were in lots of colors, not green. I even found a 'purple' one. I love all things purple but I just believe a purple Christmas tree is a little over the top, even if it does come with the lights already on it. We also purchased two new suitcases to replace the two we have worn out. Now we are itching to travel to some strange and interesting location. Claude was able to check out large plastic tubs for a project he is trying to complete.
Sunday was my turn to play the organ for Church. I was also playing for a special musical number so I was at the Church at 8:45 to practice with the special musical number and then begin prelude right after that rehearsal. I stayed for choir practice after church and left at 1:30 to visit with Papa. I took Tiny home with me so Papa could go on another drive on Monday in a south-easterly direction this time. Sunday evening was spent starting my next Institute lesson reading.
Monday the 22nd of October I went to the Scott County Extension Office for a 'Beginning Quilting' class. This was one skill I did not learn from my mom. She was good at it. I have a sister that makes beautiful intricate quilts. My goal was to learn some tricks to making a beautiful quilt top. I have all my cross-stitch squares to make a quilt top and I want to do a nice job when I put it together. I did learn a couple of things I did not already know from 'winging it' all these years. Here is the little project we made Monday morning.
Claude's Jeep was doing something funny so he left it at the dealership and came to the Extension Office and took my car home. I called him to come and get me when the class finished early. He did and he took me to Mill Stone Bakery for lunch. They do make the best sandwiches and our meal isn't any more than the cost of a hamburger.
Monday evening was the final presidential debate. I prepared a craft project I needed to get ready for the Countryside Homemakers and managed to get it completed in the time of the debate and commentary after. I managed to watch all three of the presidential debates this year and the vice-president's debate as well. Each presidential election year seems to get more and more intense. I'm not sure if it is because I'm getting older or what. It seems the races are closer and that may be part of it. I also think our ability to communicate instantly with so many people at a time intensifies the situation. And, we have way too much media commentary. It just stirs that policital cauldron. Gone are the days of hearing the information from the candidate and then processing yourself and making your own decision. And our media is so very biased that it seems to me people look for the station that leans their direction so they don't have to be frustrated and sometimes angry from listening to the opposition. That is enough waxing political for this moment in time. I'm glad I listened to the debates and, quite frankly, I'm glad they are over.
Tuesday, October 23rd was hunker down and study day. I spent the entire day readying and putting together my lesson for Institute. Since I am teaching the 4 Gospels sequentially, I have been able to glean the things covered in the scripture block we are to study for that week the items that are only contained in that Gospel. We were to finish Luke this Thursday (tonight). My struggle was the last two days of the Savior's life. I really did not want to teach that sequentially. My impression has been very strong that I needed to cover those two days as a harmony of the 4 Gospels. So a lot of my time was reading all the accounts in the 4 Gospels and determining how best to teach those two days. I finally figured it out. I'm going to teach the trials and the crucifixion of the Savior tonight. Then we will cover all of John by Thanksgiving with the exception of the last two days. We get Thanksgiving week off. The last Thursday in November we'll cover the Last Supper and the Gethsemane experience. I wanted very much to have a brief Seder meal with the youth and then cover the Last Supper. We'll do that the last Thursday in November. The last lesson we have is the first Thursday in December. That lesson we will cover the Resurrected Lord. Then we have winter break and I don't teach until January again.
Once I knew how and when I was going to teach those last two days, I set to really covering the trials and crucifixion. I realized Tuesday evening when I finally came up for air that I love when I get immersed in studying the scriptures. There are words that pop out that I look up and digest, there are behaviors that stand out each time with greater force than my last reading, there are parallels in the events and our current lives that teach valuable lessons. So much to learn and I love that kind of learning.
Wednesday morning, October 24th, I spent preparing some things for the Countryside Homemakers meeting in November. I had a visiting teaching appointment at 1pm and took this lady to lunch. We had a nice lunch and then headed back to her apartment. I parked and we rolled the windows down and sat and enjoyed a nice breeze while we talked some more. Then my cell phone started to go off.
The first was an eMail from one of our seminary teachers at Church. I gave her all my New Testament things I used when I taught seminary. These are just to help her through her year with the youth. She was feeling badly because she knows I'm now teaching the same things to the Institute young adults. She felt like she should return my materials. She also has some of my nice big maps. One of them she placed sticky notes on and left for a long period of time as she covered something. When she pulled the notes off they took pieces of the map with them. She was devastated. I quickly sent her an eMail assuring her she should keep the New Testament seminary material for the youth in our ward. I really feel I need to present a little differently to 18-30 year olds that I might to high school age youth. Then I assured her I would rather that map go down in flames serving a good purpose of training youth than rot away in my closet until I might get a chance to use it. My feeling is these are worldly possession meant to teach and train. I am grateful they can be used for that and serve their purpose. Since they are temporal items, they will not last forever even if I'm the only one using them.
The second was an eMail with a big red exclamation point on it that indicated it was urgent. I read it and learned that I needed to kick into gear and help my hubby. Sadieville is being honored at a breakfast meeting tomorrow morning by Bluegrass Tomorrow. They are recognizing Sadieville as a Trail Town candidate and for our efforts to make that happen in our little 'ville'. Our city clerk sent a Word document to Rob Rumpke, the president of Bluegrass Tomorrow, with narrative and some pictures pasted in the document about Sadieville's efforts. It turns out they needed to use the pictures and couldn't unless they came to them as .jpeg files and not as pasted items in a Word document. They needed them yesterday (Wednesday). Problem...Claude was headed to a meeting in Georgetown and doesn't really do or know how I deal with my pictures (it is just not his thing). Cindy, the city clerk, had taken two days off to care for a little granddaughter with cancer and was not available to contact about the pictures in the document. Roy Cornett sent pictures to Cindy and we didn't know where those pictures were located. I was in Georgetown and about to go to the nursing home to sing with my father. Claude and I also had a dinner meeting in the evening in Lexington. How were we going to get .jpeg files sent via eMail when we weren't home to send the ones I might have and we didn't have the ones Cindy and Roy provided. Hmmmm...
I asked Claude to eMail Rob and see if he would send us a copy of the Word document Cindy sent to him. We would then know what pictures Cindy sent him and we could send them after we returned home in the evening so they would be available for his people on Thursday morning. Claude did that. Now, the amazing thing is Rob Rumpke was at the dinner meeting we attended that evening in Lexington and we were able to talk with him face-to-face. Thursday morning would work just fine for him. He only needed 5-10 pictures. Claude did receive his eMail with a .pdf file of Cindy's Word file.
This was all very good to have happen with the lady I took to lunch. Her life is riddled with issues and problems. She is very focused on herself and the magnitude of her problems. By the time I finished sending a bunch of eMail's back and forth and sharing with her the problem and talking out possibilities to handle it with her, she was grinning that someone else had problems also. I assured her my problems were not hers but that didn't mean all of us don't have our own stuff to deal with in life. It was a positive thing for her to observe.
While Papa and I were singing our final number together, I observed two of the men in wheel chairs begin to speak sharply to each other. Then I saw one reach out and try to strike the other with his fist. Immediately the other man's fists came up. At first I was amused at the look of two old men in wheelchairs preparing to duke it out. Then I realized this was serious and they were not going to stop and it was getting more intense. I told Papa we needed to pause. Papa had not seen or heard any of this. I crossed the room to where they were and tried to yell down the hall to the nursing station there was a fight in the multi-purpose room. There was no one close enough to hear me. I quickly pulled one of the men's wheel chairs out and away from the other. Then in a calm voice I told them both to stop and stay apart from each other. Then I went back to Papa and we started our song again.
I followed Papa home after we finished singing at the nursing home and left my car in his driveway. Claude picked me up there and we headed to Garden Ridge to purchase the plastic tubs Claude needed for his project. We had taken measurements of the items he needed to place in the tubs so he now knew what size tub to purchase. Then we went to our dinner. After it was over we were both anxious to get home and see what we could accomplish that evening with the pictures. As we turned onto Hwy 32 on the final stretch to our home, Claude put his hand on my knee and patted it. I looked up and asked him what he needed. He just shook his head and said, "We forgot to get your car." Then I remembered Papa had promised Gayle, a young lady from Church that he gives rides to Church events, that he would pick her up and take her to Church. My car would have been in his driveway and he wouldn't have been able to get out to go pick her up. Good Grief!!!
We got home and I quickly called Papa and asked him if he could forgive me for not putting my car on the street instead of in his driveway. It turns out when I parked in his driveway his car had not been backed into his garage, it was outside for him to take his musical instruments out of before backing in. Papa had been able to pull out of his garage and drive around my car to go get Gayle. However, he didn't feel comfortable trying to back his car into his garage with my car in the way so his car was on the street and mine was in his driveway for the night. Goodness!!
Claude and I set to work with the pictures. He contacted Roy Cornet and asked him about sending a few of his pictures that we thought were the best. He did get several of them from Roy. I only had two of the pictures in my collection that could be used. I sent three eMails with two pictures in each eMail of the pictures we had available on Thursday evening.
This morning Claude and I were out of the house at 7am to go to Georgetown to get my car. Then I came back to the Eagle Creek Horse Motel and took pictures of it and then to Sadieville's park to take pictures of it. I hurried home and took these pictures off my camera and chose the best of that lot. Cindy was back in City Hall and Claude was there for a meeting. He told her what had happened and what we were trying to accomplish. She was able to eMail two pictures we really wanted to use. I was able to send three more eMails with two pictures each before 9am this morning. I got a nice thank you eMail from Rob Rumpke so I know the pictures were received. Whew!!!
I'm now going to make Halloween candy bags for my Institute students tonight and pull my lesson stuff together. What a whirlwind.
So, I simply state...Sometimes life is NOT a Box of Chocolates but rather a lot like being in a zoo.
My last week has definitely been more like a cage at the zoo!!
Monday the 15th of October I spent the morning taking my father to the doctor. They found an 'irregular nodule' when he had his colonoscopy and he was referred to a urologist. I became quite concerned when Papa was filling out his medical history forms for this new doctor. He couldn't remember he had a triple bi-pass surgery many years ago. We made it through the check and are moving on to a blood test needed next. Then the urologist will combine that information and determine what to do next.
Tuesday the 16th of October Claude and I were supposed to go to the Family History Center for our 4 hour shift. Claude ended up with a meeting in Sadieville to determined the future of our little post office. I called Papa and he said he would go with me. Now, if that isn't the blind leading the blind to cover that shift, I truly do not know what is. I picked Papa up and we had a good time together. I drove him home on the back roads and bought him lunch at Long John Silvers on the way home. Then I left him to get some shopping done for Christmas and to purchase groceries. I returned to Papa's home to pick up Tiny. Papa wanted to make a drive on Wednesday to Nashville and I was going to keep Tiny for him to do that. Tiny and I journeyed to Sadieville where she settled in just fine for her visit. Claude's post office meeting went great. There were 40 residents there to voice their opinion. We only look a little time that the post office will be open which is not a biggy necessarily. We also add a full time post master and keep the rural routes we have. Yeah!! All of northern Scott County, Kentucky can be happy about the success of that meeting.
Wednesday the 17th of October I filled my morning with home chores and the afternoon back in Georgetown to play a DVD for the nursing home residents of a country music show from very long ago. Then back to Sadieville to help Claude set up the Rosenwald school for a meeting to be held there the next morning. In the evening I made muffins for him to take to the early morning meeting the next day.
Thursday the 18th of October I finished up my Institute lesson and spent the afternoon taking Tiny back to Papa, practicing the organ at Church and finding a nice sandwich at Arby's where I read my novel for a while. In the evening I taught my Institute class. I went in early because a young woman was being baptized before our class.
Friday the 19th of October I visited a friend from Church in the morning and then came home drained. I was actually experiencing some feelings of depression that were not going away. Every now and then we all have a blue day. This feeling I had for several days and it was hanging on and I couldn't seem to shake it. I determined I was going to curl up and read my book. I borrowed the novel "Exodus" from the library and it was due. I renewed the loan and curled up to read my book. It felt so good to put on thick socks and warm clothes and a sweat shirt, grab a fleece blanket and snuggle under it as I read.
Saturday the 20th of October I enjoyed my reading experience so much that I determined I would do that again. Claude declared Saturday a pajama day since we didn't have to go anywhere. So I curled up and read all day. In the evening we did get up, get dressed and headed in to Lexington to Logan's Roadhouse for dinner. Claude was steak hungry. Alas, I'm not the carnivore he is so I enjoyed a nice salmon dinner. Stuffed, we determined we should walk some of that dinner off. Where to go, where to go. I remembered there was a Garden Ridge store in that part of Hamburg Pavilion so we headed there to walk around for a while. Imagine my joy at entering and finding Christmas silk poinsettias and artificial trees lining the walk into the store. These trees were in lots of colors, not green. I even found a 'purple' one. I love all things purple but I just believe a purple Christmas tree is a little over the top, even if it does come with the lights already on it. We also purchased two new suitcases to replace the two we have worn out. Now we are itching to travel to some strange and interesting location. Claude was able to check out large plastic tubs for a project he is trying to complete.
Sunday was my turn to play the organ for Church. I was also playing for a special musical number so I was at the Church at 8:45 to practice with the special musical number and then begin prelude right after that rehearsal. I stayed for choir practice after church and left at 1:30 to visit with Papa. I took Tiny home with me so Papa could go on another drive on Monday in a south-easterly direction this time. Sunday evening was spent starting my next Institute lesson reading.
Monday the 22nd of October I went to the Scott County Extension Office for a 'Beginning Quilting' class. This was one skill I did not learn from my mom. She was good at it. I have a sister that makes beautiful intricate quilts. My goal was to learn some tricks to making a beautiful quilt top. I have all my cross-stitch squares to make a quilt top and I want to do a nice job when I put it together. I did learn a couple of things I did not already know from 'winging it' all these years. Here is the little project we made Monday morning.
Monday evening was the final presidential debate. I prepared a craft project I needed to get ready for the Countryside Homemakers and managed to get it completed in the time of the debate and commentary after. I managed to watch all three of the presidential debates this year and the vice-president's debate as well. Each presidential election year seems to get more and more intense. I'm not sure if it is because I'm getting older or what. It seems the races are closer and that may be part of it. I also think our ability to communicate instantly with so many people at a time intensifies the situation. And, we have way too much media commentary. It just stirs that policital cauldron. Gone are the days of hearing the information from the candidate and then processing yourself and making your own decision. And our media is so very biased that it seems to me people look for the station that leans their direction so they don't have to be frustrated and sometimes angry from listening to the opposition. That is enough waxing political for this moment in time. I'm glad I listened to the debates and, quite frankly, I'm glad they are over.
Tuesday, October 23rd was hunker down and study day. I spent the entire day readying and putting together my lesson for Institute. Since I am teaching the 4 Gospels sequentially, I have been able to glean the things covered in the scripture block we are to study for that week the items that are only contained in that Gospel. We were to finish Luke this Thursday (tonight). My struggle was the last two days of the Savior's life. I really did not want to teach that sequentially. My impression has been very strong that I needed to cover those two days as a harmony of the 4 Gospels. So a lot of my time was reading all the accounts in the 4 Gospels and determining how best to teach those two days. I finally figured it out. I'm going to teach the trials and the crucifixion of the Savior tonight. Then we will cover all of John by Thanksgiving with the exception of the last two days. We get Thanksgiving week off. The last Thursday in November we'll cover the Last Supper and the Gethsemane experience. I wanted very much to have a brief Seder meal with the youth and then cover the Last Supper. We'll do that the last Thursday in November. The last lesson we have is the first Thursday in December. That lesson we will cover the Resurrected Lord. Then we have winter break and I don't teach until January again.
Once I knew how and when I was going to teach those last two days, I set to really covering the trials and crucifixion. I realized Tuesday evening when I finally came up for air that I love when I get immersed in studying the scriptures. There are words that pop out that I look up and digest, there are behaviors that stand out each time with greater force than my last reading, there are parallels in the events and our current lives that teach valuable lessons. So much to learn and I love that kind of learning.
Wednesday morning, October 24th, I spent preparing some things for the Countryside Homemakers meeting in November. I had a visiting teaching appointment at 1pm and took this lady to lunch. We had a nice lunch and then headed back to her apartment. I parked and we rolled the windows down and sat and enjoyed a nice breeze while we talked some more. Then my cell phone started to go off.
The first was an eMail from one of our seminary teachers at Church. I gave her all my New Testament things I used when I taught seminary. These are just to help her through her year with the youth. She was feeling badly because she knows I'm now teaching the same things to the Institute young adults. She felt like she should return my materials. She also has some of my nice big maps. One of them she placed sticky notes on and left for a long period of time as she covered something. When she pulled the notes off they took pieces of the map with them. She was devastated. I quickly sent her an eMail assuring her she should keep the New Testament seminary material for the youth in our ward. I really feel I need to present a little differently to 18-30 year olds that I might to high school age youth. Then I assured her I would rather that map go down in flames serving a good purpose of training youth than rot away in my closet until I might get a chance to use it. My feeling is these are worldly possession meant to teach and train. I am grateful they can be used for that and serve their purpose. Since they are temporal items, they will not last forever even if I'm the only one using them.
The second was an eMail with a big red exclamation point on it that indicated it was urgent. I read it and learned that I needed to kick into gear and help my hubby. Sadieville is being honored at a breakfast meeting tomorrow morning by Bluegrass Tomorrow. They are recognizing Sadieville as a Trail Town candidate and for our efforts to make that happen in our little 'ville'. Our city clerk sent a Word document to Rob Rumpke, the president of Bluegrass Tomorrow, with narrative and some pictures pasted in the document about Sadieville's efforts. It turns out they needed to use the pictures and couldn't unless they came to them as .jpeg files and not as pasted items in a Word document. They needed them yesterday (Wednesday). Problem...Claude was headed to a meeting in Georgetown and doesn't really do or know how I deal with my pictures (it is just not his thing). Cindy, the city clerk, had taken two days off to care for a little granddaughter with cancer and was not available to contact about the pictures in the document. Roy Cornett sent pictures to Cindy and we didn't know where those pictures were located. I was in Georgetown and about to go to the nursing home to sing with my father. Claude and I also had a dinner meeting in the evening in Lexington. How were we going to get .jpeg files sent via eMail when we weren't home to send the ones I might have and we didn't have the ones Cindy and Roy provided. Hmmmm...
I asked Claude to eMail Rob and see if he would send us a copy of the Word document Cindy sent to him. We would then know what pictures Cindy sent him and we could send them after we returned home in the evening so they would be available for his people on Thursday morning. Claude did that. Now, the amazing thing is Rob Rumpke was at the dinner meeting we attended that evening in Lexington and we were able to talk with him face-to-face. Thursday morning would work just fine for him. He only needed 5-10 pictures. Claude did receive his eMail with a .pdf file of Cindy's Word file.
This was all very good to have happen with the lady I took to lunch. Her life is riddled with issues and problems. She is very focused on herself and the magnitude of her problems. By the time I finished sending a bunch of eMail's back and forth and sharing with her the problem and talking out possibilities to handle it with her, she was grinning that someone else had problems also. I assured her my problems were not hers but that didn't mean all of us don't have our own stuff to deal with in life. It was a positive thing for her to observe.
While Papa and I were singing our final number together, I observed two of the men in wheel chairs begin to speak sharply to each other. Then I saw one reach out and try to strike the other with his fist. Immediately the other man's fists came up. At first I was amused at the look of two old men in wheelchairs preparing to duke it out. Then I realized this was serious and they were not going to stop and it was getting more intense. I told Papa we needed to pause. Papa had not seen or heard any of this. I crossed the room to where they were and tried to yell down the hall to the nursing station there was a fight in the multi-purpose room. There was no one close enough to hear me. I quickly pulled one of the men's wheel chairs out and away from the other. Then in a calm voice I told them both to stop and stay apart from each other. Then I went back to Papa and we started our song again.
I followed Papa home after we finished singing at the nursing home and left my car in his driveway. Claude picked me up there and we headed to Garden Ridge to purchase the plastic tubs Claude needed for his project. We had taken measurements of the items he needed to place in the tubs so he now knew what size tub to purchase. Then we went to our dinner. After it was over we were both anxious to get home and see what we could accomplish that evening with the pictures. As we turned onto Hwy 32 on the final stretch to our home, Claude put his hand on my knee and patted it. I looked up and asked him what he needed. He just shook his head and said, "We forgot to get your car." Then I remembered Papa had promised Gayle, a young lady from Church that he gives rides to Church events, that he would pick her up and take her to Church. My car would have been in his driveway and he wouldn't have been able to get out to go pick her up. Good Grief!!!
We got home and I quickly called Papa and asked him if he could forgive me for not putting my car on the street instead of in his driveway. It turns out when I parked in his driveway his car had not been backed into his garage, it was outside for him to take his musical instruments out of before backing in. Papa had been able to pull out of his garage and drive around my car to go get Gayle. However, he didn't feel comfortable trying to back his car into his garage with my car in the way so his car was on the street and mine was in his driveway for the night. Goodness!!
Claude and I set to work with the pictures. He contacted Roy Cornet and asked him about sending a few of his pictures that we thought were the best. He did get several of them from Roy. I only had two of the pictures in my collection that could be used. I sent three eMails with two pictures in each eMail of the pictures we had available on Thursday evening.
This morning Claude and I were out of the house at 7am to go to Georgetown to get my car. Then I came back to the Eagle Creek Horse Motel and took pictures of it and then to Sadieville's park to take pictures of it. I hurried home and took these pictures off my camera and chose the best of that lot. Cindy was back in City Hall and Claude was there for a meeting. He told her what had happened and what we were trying to accomplish. She was able to eMail two pictures we really wanted to use. I was able to send three more eMails with two pictures each before 9am this morning. I got a nice thank you eMail from Rob Rumpke so I know the pictures were received. Whew!!!
I'm now going to make Halloween candy bags for my Institute students tonight and pull my lesson stuff together. What a whirlwind.
So, I simply state...Sometimes life is NOT a Box of Chocolates but rather a lot like being in a zoo.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Yellow and White...
Once upon a time...
I was perusing the yarn aisle in a store and checking all those free crochet patterns that come with yarn. I found a baby afghan pattern that struck me as possibly fun to do. I took one off the tablet and tucked it in my purse to bring home and keep just in case it turned out to be the right needlework project for me to do some time.
Once upon another time...
I was perusing the yarn aisle in WalMart and came across a big ball of yellow soft yarn for $2. Hmmm...that is my kind of deal. So I plopped the big ball of yellow soft yarn into my shopping cart and purchased it. Then I took it home and kept it just in case it turned out to be the correct yarn for the right needlework project for me to do sometime.
Once upon the next time...
I was cleaning out my craft/sewing/computer/whatever room closets and realized I had a big ball of white soft yarn that I had not used. The 'wheels in my head went turn, turn, turn' and I remembered the first 'once upon a time' and a crochet pattern that intrigued me and I remembered the second 'once upon a time' and a big ball of yellow soft yarn and all the stars went into alignment, peace was in my universe and I knew I was given the tools needed to make something beautiful.
However, I didn't have anyone for whom I needed to make a baby afghan. I determined that just didn't matter. I would make it and enjoy the opportunity to not make something with a deadline but just for the pure joy of creating. I set to work.
Then I was called to teach Institute and two of my students are newly weds and they are due to have their first baby the end of October. There was the place for this afghan to go. This week I finished the afghan so I can take it Thursday evening and give it to this cute young couple for their very first baby.
Wanna see the afghan...I thought so...Here it is...
It is a series of really interesting squares in alternating rows of yellow and white yarn. There are 24 squares the have white edges and 25 squares that have yellow edges. You put them in strips of 7 alternating colors and then put the strips of 7 together so those edges have alternating colors making a square blanket. The edge in the pattern was not to my liking so I played around and came up with this border.
My creative side must now focus on getting through Christmas. But man alive it was fun to make this afghan, very, very time consuming, but so much fun. Even Claude pronounced it beautiful and he's a guy!!
I was perusing the yarn aisle in a store and checking all those free crochet patterns that come with yarn. I found a baby afghan pattern that struck me as possibly fun to do. I took one off the tablet and tucked it in my purse to bring home and keep just in case it turned out to be the right needlework project for me to do some time.
Once upon another time...
I was perusing the yarn aisle in WalMart and came across a big ball of yellow soft yarn for $2. Hmmm...that is my kind of deal. So I plopped the big ball of yellow soft yarn into my shopping cart and purchased it. Then I took it home and kept it just in case it turned out to be the correct yarn for the right needlework project for me to do sometime.
Once upon the next time...
I was cleaning out my craft/sewing/computer/whatever room closets and realized I had a big ball of white soft yarn that I had not used. The 'wheels in my head went turn, turn, turn' and I remembered the first 'once upon a time' and a crochet pattern that intrigued me and I remembered the second 'once upon a time' and a big ball of yellow soft yarn and all the stars went into alignment, peace was in my universe and I knew I was given the tools needed to make something beautiful.
However, I didn't have anyone for whom I needed to make a baby afghan. I determined that just didn't matter. I would make it and enjoy the opportunity to not make something with a deadline but just for the pure joy of creating. I set to work.
Then I was called to teach Institute and two of my students are newly weds and they are due to have their first baby the end of October. There was the place for this afghan to go. This week I finished the afghan so I can take it Thursday evening and give it to this cute young couple for their very first baby.
Wanna see the afghan...I thought so...Here it is...
My creative side must now focus on getting through Christmas. But man alive it was fun to make this afghan, very, very time consuming, but so much fun. Even Claude pronounced it beautiful and he's a guy!!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Bikers and Chili...
Saturday, October 13th, was the Sadie"Hill" Bike Tour held in conjunction with the Annual Sadieville Chili Cook-off. This was the first Bike Tour held in Sadieville. There were three routes that ranged from 20+ miles to 60+ miles. All the riders left at 10:30am from Warring Pavilion.
While the bikers started their run, we had the contestants drop their chili off at City Hall by 11:15am. The judges began judging about 11:45am. By a little after noon the awards were being given out. We gave out awards for Meatiest, Spiciest, Most Original and Best Overall. Two Sadieville citizens won and two of the bikers that entered won.
After the winners were announced the chili was available for purchase for $5 for chili, crackers, beverage and dessert. The money raised will go to the Friends of Sadieville to finish restoring and winterizing the Rosenwald School and to begin saving for work on Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
Here are a few pictures of the day.
This was a beautiful day filled with new people visiting Sadieville and old time residents enjoying a Saturday together. At one point when several of us were sitting in City Hall talking and I was crocheting away on my latest project, I paused and just enjoyed the feeling. Then I stated to everyone, "This just feel so Southern to me. Friends sitting and visiting with good food and so relaxed." Gotta love that Southern Living!!
Blessings Plus...
Thursday evening (October 11th) I taught an Institute class. The Thursday prior (October 4th) I was not there to teach because of a birthday trip with and for Claude. The Thursday prior (September 27th) I ended the class with information about General Conference and encouragement to each student to watch and record a thought that impressed them. We were to share these thoughts this Thursday (October 11th).
Claude was to spend the week in Lexington at the KLC (Kentucky League of Cities) conference. He is on the board and would have a board meeting the first day prior to the beginning of conference. Thursday was to be a full day for him as they had dinner and awards in the evening. This meant I had a full day to plot for myself. I finished my Institute lesson preparation Wednesday evening. Thursday morning I made a to do list of all the errands I wanted to run in Lexington without my dear hubby. I finally got away from my home at 2:30pm.
My first stop was the Joann's Fabric store to purchase fabric for a new purse and Christmas presents for each of my grandmonsters. Check.
My next stop was Hancock Fabric to see if they had the lace that Joann's didn't carry for a Christmas ornament the Countryside Homemakers are making at my home in November. Check. (NOTE: I was looking for the tiny lace to put on the edge of something and it needed to be an off white color. There was only one, just one, of this tiny lace to be purchased in either fabric store. That used to be a staple.)
My next stop was Krispy Kreme to purchase donuts for the snack for the Institute kids that night. Check. (NOTE: The light was on so the donuts were hot. What's a girl to do. I just ordered two extra for me to eat as I drove to my next stop!)
My next stop was Steak and Shake for my dinner, BLT and cheese fries. I enjoyed eating alone and reading my novel. Check.
My next stop was to be the book store but I was now fully engrossed in my novel and decided to head to the church instead. No check.
I set up my classroom and sat myself down to read my novel till the young adults came for Institute. I'm reading Exodus again.
The young adults started to arrive at 7pm. We had a devotional and then, as a few others trickled, in I shared an impression I had during the previous week to give them the Apostolic Blessing Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave during his CES Devotional Address the first part of September. The card has the blessing on one side, Elder Holland's testimony on the other and the verse to I"srael, Israel, God is Calling", a hymn he used as the basis for his text. They each eagerly took a card.
Then I asked them to each share the thoughts that impressed them from General Conference. We had a nice little discussion using those thoughts. I shared a few of mine which they had not previously shared. Then I read a quote from Pres. Thomas S. Monson's talk about remembering our blessings. Each student was given a piece of paper and asked to take about three minutes to records just blessings throughout their lives. I was so touched and moved as the next three minutes passed. All 17 heads were down and they were writing the entire three minutes. It was just moving to have silence except for the movement of writing instrument on paper recording blessings. I almost hated calling time to move on with the lesson.
There was such a good spirit in the room by the time we finished that we could have easily called it a great class, said a closing prayer, and left filled for the evening. But we had Luke 10-15 to cover.
We started that discussion with the calling of the Seventy in Luke 10. We read that from the scriptures. I had them share what they learned about the duties of the Seventy from their reading. The cutest was a return missionary who said he noted the part where they were to eat what they were offered. Since many missionaries serve all over the world, food is often different from what they are used to at home. Even serving in a different part of the United States the food can be different. They are taught to be good guests and appreciate whatever is offered to them in the way of food. I shared a silly experience from working with the Young Women in Maryland many years ago. We had an etiquette specialist come speak to the Young Women. Her comment I shall never forget was, "Even a lady can each mouse once if she has too." The young adults all got a chuckle out of that.
Then I shared some background from our day about the seventy. First I shared Claude's experience not long after we were married. He was called as a seventy which functioned at the stake level. He was one of the seven presidents chosen from that stake wide group of seventy. He had responsibility for Leadville, Evergreen and Frisco, Colorado branches of the Church. These seven presidents served as the stake mission presidency and had responsibility for the mission efforts within our stake.
Next I shared Elder Hymas' experiences which I had requested from him. Elder Hymas was our previous stake president. When released he was called as a seventy. Many of the students would know him and my feeling was his remarks would touch them in a personal way. He shared what his responsibilities are, that there are 8 quorums of seventy that serve the entire Church. The first two quorums are considered General Authorities in the Church and have a world-wide responsibility. Quorums 3-8 are not considered General Authorities in the Church and have a specifice area of the world as their responsibility. Elder Hymas has the south-eastern portion of the United States as his responsibility. Elder Hymas shared two things he tells people when asked how he is enjoying his calling as a seventy. The first was his interaction with the Apostles and General Authorities and Auxiliary leaders in the Church. They are wise and kind-hearted. Then he loves his interaction with the people and truly understanding the Church is the same wherever he goes, he is always welcome and the people are all striving to live the same covenants and principles. Then he bore his testimony.
It was a good portion of the lesson.
We next moved to the end of Luke and the parable of the Good Samaritan. We read through the parable. Then I asked the students to share what they learned in this cursory reading. It was all very basic and first glance thoughts. Then we looked for the deeper meaning. I printed the verses and posted them on the chalkboard. As we covered each word or group of words I shared a deeper meaning. After about four words I suggested they now had the hang of where we were going with this train of thought. I would underline a word or group of words and ask them what they now saw and understood and they would express some very profound feelings. Times was moving faster than I had figured so I skipped a few words. Tim raised his hand and noted the words I missed. I chuckled and told him that I deliberately did that due to the time passing so quickly but assured him we would stop and cover what he was feeling. It was just such a good thing to stop and have him share his understanding now of those words. At one point one of the Alyssa expressed her concern that the question didn't seem completely answered that the Savior was answering with the parable. Then Tim gave his impressions and it was just what she needed to hear to understand for herself what was being answered. The Spirit was strong and it was such a good experience.
We continued with a quick review of the parables in Luke 15. Then we had a closing prayer and the donuts were opened as the kids put away the tables and chairs for me.
As I was leaving the building, Alyssa was coming quickly back into the building and she was obviously very happy. She had still been contemplating the parable of the Good Samaritan and her question and answer. She had a 'flash of intellect' as I often call it when some truth is suddenly burned into your heart. She turned her car around and returned to the church to share her insight with Tim.
I left with a very full heart. It was just powerful to listen, share, learn and feel the Spirit with these young people. I left feeling extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to be with them and learn with them. That is a blessing
Claude was to spend the week in Lexington at the KLC (Kentucky League of Cities) conference. He is on the board and would have a board meeting the first day prior to the beginning of conference. Thursday was to be a full day for him as they had dinner and awards in the evening. This meant I had a full day to plot for myself. I finished my Institute lesson preparation Wednesday evening. Thursday morning I made a to do list of all the errands I wanted to run in Lexington without my dear hubby. I finally got away from my home at 2:30pm.
My first stop was the Joann's Fabric store to purchase fabric for a new purse and Christmas presents for each of my grandmonsters. Check.
My next stop was Hancock Fabric to see if they had the lace that Joann's didn't carry for a Christmas ornament the Countryside Homemakers are making at my home in November. Check. (NOTE: I was looking for the tiny lace to put on the edge of something and it needed to be an off white color. There was only one, just one, of this tiny lace to be purchased in either fabric store. That used to be a staple.)
My next stop was Krispy Kreme to purchase donuts for the snack for the Institute kids that night. Check. (NOTE: The light was on so the donuts were hot. What's a girl to do. I just ordered two extra for me to eat as I drove to my next stop!)
My next stop was Steak and Shake for my dinner, BLT and cheese fries. I enjoyed eating alone and reading my novel. Check.
My next stop was to be the book store but I was now fully engrossed in my novel and decided to head to the church instead. No check.
I set up my classroom and sat myself down to read my novel till the young adults came for Institute. I'm reading Exodus again.
The young adults started to arrive at 7pm. We had a devotional and then, as a few others trickled, in I shared an impression I had during the previous week to give them the Apostolic Blessing Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave during his CES Devotional Address the first part of September. The card has the blessing on one side, Elder Holland's testimony on the other and the verse to I"srael, Israel, God is Calling", a hymn he used as the basis for his text. They each eagerly took a card.
Then I asked them to each share the thoughts that impressed them from General Conference. We had a nice little discussion using those thoughts. I shared a few of mine which they had not previously shared. Then I read a quote from Pres. Thomas S. Monson's talk about remembering our blessings. Each student was given a piece of paper and asked to take about three minutes to records just blessings throughout their lives. I was so touched and moved as the next three minutes passed. All 17 heads were down and they were writing the entire three minutes. It was just moving to have silence except for the movement of writing instrument on paper recording blessings. I almost hated calling time to move on with the lesson.
There was such a good spirit in the room by the time we finished that we could have easily called it a great class, said a closing prayer, and left filled for the evening. But we had Luke 10-15 to cover.
We started that discussion with the calling of the Seventy in Luke 10. We read that from the scriptures. I had them share what they learned about the duties of the Seventy from their reading. The cutest was a return missionary who said he noted the part where they were to eat what they were offered. Since many missionaries serve all over the world, food is often different from what they are used to at home. Even serving in a different part of the United States the food can be different. They are taught to be good guests and appreciate whatever is offered to them in the way of food. I shared a silly experience from working with the Young Women in Maryland many years ago. We had an etiquette specialist come speak to the Young Women. Her comment I shall never forget was, "Even a lady can each mouse once if she has too." The young adults all got a chuckle out of that.
Then I shared some background from our day about the seventy. First I shared Claude's experience not long after we were married. He was called as a seventy which functioned at the stake level. He was one of the seven presidents chosen from that stake wide group of seventy. He had responsibility for Leadville, Evergreen and Frisco, Colorado branches of the Church. These seven presidents served as the stake mission presidency and had responsibility for the mission efforts within our stake.
Next I shared Elder Hymas' experiences which I had requested from him. Elder Hymas was our previous stake president. When released he was called as a seventy. Many of the students would know him and my feeling was his remarks would touch them in a personal way. He shared what his responsibilities are, that there are 8 quorums of seventy that serve the entire Church. The first two quorums are considered General Authorities in the Church and have a world-wide responsibility. Quorums 3-8 are not considered General Authorities in the Church and have a specifice area of the world as their responsibility. Elder Hymas has the south-eastern portion of the United States as his responsibility. Elder Hymas shared two things he tells people when asked how he is enjoying his calling as a seventy. The first was his interaction with the Apostles and General Authorities and Auxiliary leaders in the Church. They are wise and kind-hearted. Then he loves his interaction with the people and truly understanding the Church is the same wherever he goes, he is always welcome and the people are all striving to live the same covenants and principles. Then he bore his testimony.
It was a good portion of the lesson.
We next moved to the end of Luke and the parable of the Good Samaritan. We read through the parable. Then I asked the students to share what they learned in this cursory reading. It was all very basic and first glance thoughts. Then we looked for the deeper meaning. I printed the verses and posted them on the chalkboard. As we covered each word or group of words I shared a deeper meaning. After about four words I suggested they now had the hang of where we were going with this train of thought. I would underline a word or group of words and ask them what they now saw and understood and they would express some very profound feelings. Times was moving faster than I had figured so I skipped a few words. Tim raised his hand and noted the words I missed. I chuckled and told him that I deliberately did that due to the time passing so quickly but assured him we would stop and cover what he was feeling. It was just such a good thing to stop and have him share his understanding now of those words. At one point one of the Alyssa expressed her concern that the question didn't seem completely answered that the Savior was answering with the parable. Then Tim gave his impressions and it was just what she needed to hear to understand for herself what was being answered. The Spirit was strong and it was such a good experience.
We continued with a quick review of the parables in Luke 15. Then we had a closing prayer and the donuts were opened as the kids put away the tables and chairs for me.
As I was leaving the building, Alyssa was coming quickly back into the building and she was obviously very happy. She had still been contemplating the parable of the Good Samaritan and her question and answer. She had a 'flash of intellect' as I often call it when some truth is suddenly burned into your heart. She turned her car around and returned to the church to share her insight with Tim.
I left with a very full heart. It was just powerful to listen, share, learn and feel the Spirit with these young people. I left feeling extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to be with them and learn with them. That is a blessing
Monday, October 8, 2012
Bike Rack Times Four...
We had a young man at Church who eMailed Claude looking for a possibility in Sadieville for an Eagle Scout Project. Claude suggested the fact that Sadieville could use some bike racks.
Jared Parker proposed the idea to the Scout Council and it was accepted. He petitioned his family for funding to purchase the needed supplies. He gathered the supplies and the requested the help of Jim Parker (no relation to Jared) in our ward (congregation) at Church. We provided pictures of the bike rack we saw in Michigan as the model for how to build the bike racks. Jim is a master at woodworking and he created the plan to build the racks. The Scout Troop at Church provided the man power.
Saturday the bike racks were delivered to Sadieville. There are four of them and they were placed one by City Hall, one in Warring Park and two at the park on Hwy. 32.
This is Jared with the bike rack in Warring Park.
This is Jared and Claude, the Mayor, shaking hands at the placement by the park on Hwy 32.
And this is Jared and his father, Trent. One happy young man and his dad.
Now Jared has to go through all the paperwork process to complete and receive his Eagle rank. And...Sadieville has new bike racks just in time for the 1st Annual Sadie"Hill" Bike Tour and our Annual Chili Cook-off this Saturday. Thanks Jared!!
Jared Parker proposed the idea to the Scout Council and it was accepted. He petitioned his family for funding to purchase the needed supplies. He gathered the supplies and the requested the help of Jim Parker (no relation to Jared) in our ward (congregation) at Church. We provided pictures of the bike rack we saw in Michigan as the model for how to build the bike racks. Jim is a master at woodworking and he created the plan to build the racks. The Scout Troop at Church provided the man power.
This is Jared with the bike rack in Warring Park.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The Road 'More' & 'Less' Traveled...
Claude's 63rd birthday was Thursday, October 4th. When he was in Utah to visit his mom in August, I paused a bit to determine what to do for this birthday. I landed on a trip to Berea, Kentucky. We've had this on our 'bucket list' of places to visit in Kentucky. I did some Internet research and found they had a nice little package deal which I purchased.
Thursday, October 4th, we had a leisurely morning. Claude had an 11am conference call with Kentucky League of Cities. We planned to leave right after that call, which we did.
There was supposed to be a tour at 3pm. We were not supposed to be able to check into the hotel until 4pm. The plan was to go to Berea, stop in at Boone's Tavern and Inn and get the tour location, do our walking tour, come back and check into the hotel and then eventually have dinner.
We arrived at Boone's Tavern and Inn just about 2:30pm. We left our luggage in the car as we didn't think it would be needed until the 4pm check-in. However, we were checked right in and given keys to our room. The desk clerk called ahead for our tour. We walked over to the Visitor's Center from which the tour would begin.
We waited and no one came. Finally a man came through hurrying to the offices and asked us if anyone was helping us. I explained we were there for the 3pm tour. He said he would take care of it. Off he went into the offices. In a brief time a lady came out to explain that every Thursday the students are all required to go to a Convocation and so Thursday is the only day they don't have a 3pm tour. Oops. She said she would have two students there by 4pm after the Convocation and one of them could do a tour then if we cared to wait. Or we could come back on Friday. We chose to wait and she showed us into the little Visitor's Center theater to view the movie about Berea College.
This is an amazing small college. Founded by a man name Lee who was a minister. He believed that all men were created equal. This was during the time of the Civil War and many people did not believe that way. He was given a piece of land by Cassius Clay (not the one who later changed his name to Mohammed Ali). On this land he built a church and began to practice his religious beliefs, open to all races and nationalities of people. Eventually this church had a school and over the years and through lots of history this became Berea College. The College still operates on this basic premise that all men are equal (women are included in that phrase by the way). It is difficult to get in. Our tour guide said there were 1500 applicants for the time he applied and only 50 were accepted. The focus is mostly on Appalachian youth with low incomes but really ready for college. There is no football team but they seem to have every other sport covered. The students pay no tuition. They are expected to work 15-20 hours per week. The money they would earn covers room, books and board. We toured one large chapel in which the Convocation is held every Thursday and another small chapel that looked like it came from England. This smaller chapel is used by students of any faith to hold services or to just go in and worship. Claude and I totally enjoyed our tour, our tour guide and learning about this unique college.
In the rush of getting to where we thought we needed to be at the time we thought we needed to be there, I forgot to take my camera out of my craft bag. It was in the car during the entire tour of the college. I did take this one picture with my cell phone of one of the buildings of Berea College used for classes now.
We had a 6pm dinner reservation at Boone's Tavern. After our tour we stopped by the fudge shop and purchased a snack for later during the evening. Then we retrieved our luggage from the car and headed to our room to change for dinner.
Dinner was scrumptious. It was included in our package with the exception of the tip for the server. We each had tomato bisque with black-eyed peas. Then we split a fried green tomato salad. My entree was salmon and Claude had scallops. Throughout we were served spoon bread right from the pan to our bread plates. We opted to each have our own dessert. I had a chocolate cake (no surprise there) with a chocolate center filling full of walnuts and a white icing with a touch of caramel in it. Claude had the bread pudding (no surprise there either) with a fruit topping. We did ask for a wheelbarrow to carry us to our rooms but that was NOT included.
We waddled out to the veranda and found two rocking chairs facing the street and sat and rocked and enjoyed the cool of a summer evening Southern style. After rocking for a bit a couple about our age came noisely around the corner. The wife looked at me and point and said, "You're in my seat." I looked at her and said, "I feel like I'm in an episode of Big Bang Theory." They were obviously aware of that TV sitcom and we all had a good laugh. Turns out her hubby was in Berea for training, they were staying at the Inn and she had occupied my rocker during the day while he was in training. I did not give up my rocker.
We eventually headed upstairs to our room. This lovely old historic inn has done a renovation so it is Kentucky's first LEED certified green hotel. A bit of history about Boone's Tavern and Inn. Originally the president of Berea College's wife was the hostess for out-of-town visitors. After doing this for some time, Nellie Frost, the then president's wife, told her hubby he could build something where these guests could be taken care of or get a new wife. He chose to build something and that was Boone Tavern and Inn. The name Boone was chosen because it was on the Daniel Boone Trail. The word Tavern does not denote a place to drink like we normally would think of it. In that day (1909) it was a place to house guests as a hotel. I've blogged about Boone Tavern when my Countryside Homemakers went there for lunch in June of this year. Lots of pictures can be found on that Blog entry.
Friday morning we slept in as check-out time wasn't until 11am and we felt we wanted to enjoy our comfortable surroundings for as long as we could. We walked down the street and browsed through the shops. Found a few Christmas gifts. Then we headed to the Log Cabin Craft Store. Found a few more Christmas gifts. By then our dinner from the night before had worn down to a point we thought lunch might be in order. We entered the Main Street Cafe from the back and had a nice light lunch. Then we were off for the next portion of our adventure.
While researching things to do in the Berea area, I found a place called Tater Knob Pottery. The name was the big draw for me. I printed directions. This would be our next goal. The drive would take us through the Knob Region of Kentucky. The Knobs Region borders the Bluegrass Region and is horseshoe shaped. It is the smallest of Kentucky's six regions. The Knobs are cone-shaped or rounded hills formed from escarpments. It is just beautiful to drive through.
Now, about these pictures. The first three are views of the Knobs and the farm land at their base. The fourth picture is a lovely little church at the base of a Knob. Claude paused the car and I rolled own my window to take the picture. Just as I finished Claude said, "Make sure you don't get the dead bird in the picture." I had not noticed the dead bird but you can see it in the lower left section of the picture. The fifth picture is a field of grain. I loved this section of our drive and took this picture while the are was moving. To me it appears the trees just floated from their position on the mountain and are now floating in the field of grain. The last picture is a tobacco barn filled with tobacco hanging to dry. I love the fields of tobacco growing in Kentucky. While I don't smoke, I do think this plant is simply gorgeous as it grows and the land is dotted with lots of these dark barns with places to open on the sides and ends to let air flow through while the tobacco cures for market.
After one wrong turn we found Tater Knob Pottery. It is way, way back in these mountains. It is owned and operated by Jeff Enge and Sarah Culbreth. We happened to have passed Sarah on a very narrow bit of the road up to their place. She came back to see if she could help us. She was a delight to visit with. We watched her 'throw' three different kinds of pottery. While she worked that clay she talked away and we talked away. It felt like Sarah was a kindred spirit kind of friend. We purchased lots of stuff for ourselves at this place. It was a highlight of our Friday.
Before we left, Sarah pulled out a brown paper lunch bag. On it she drew a map for us to follow for a fun drive in the country the rest of the afternoon. She also autographed the map and said, "Someday this will be worth something." I shall save the bag...just in case. The drive would take us through the Red Lick area. A place that has the name 'lick' in it is simply a place where salt was on the surface and animals would come there to lick and get the salt needed in their diet. The end of our drive would take us to the Red River Furnace. This an iron furnace used for four years between 1869 and 1873. Claude learned how it all worked and shared his knowledge with me as I took pictures of this lovely old edifice. They have placed a roof over it and some drainage pipes down the back to help preserve it a little longer. We walked all around and inside of this old building.
After our visit to the Red River Furnace we pointed the red Buick toward Lexington. Our dinner was to be enjoyed at BD Mongolian Grill. Then we had two final stops, both at WalMart. Gas was clearly lower in price there so we whipped into a gas pump location and filled my car. Then we bought a few groceries needed for the next few days.
We both entered our home tired but refreshed from a fun couple of days enjoying each other's company, learning some new things and seeing some of the beauty with which we are surrounded. Happy Birthday, Claude Jay!!
Thursday, October 4th, we had a leisurely morning. Claude had an 11am conference call with Kentucky League of Cities. We planned to leave right after that call, which we did.
There was supposed to be a tour at 3pm. We were not supposed to be able to check into the hotel until 4pm. The plan was to go to Berea, stop in at Boone's Tavern and Inn and get the tour location, do our walking tour, come back and check into the hotel and then eventually have dinner.
We arrived at Boone's Tavern and Inn just about 2:30pm. We left our luggage in the car as we didn't think it would be needed until the 4pm check-in. However, we were checked right in and given keys to our room. The desk clerk called ahead for our tour. We walked over to the Visitor's Center from which the tour would begin.
We waited and no one came. Finally a man came through hurrying to the offices and asked us if anyone was helping us. I explained we were there for the 3pm tour. He said he would take care of it. Off he went into the offices. In a brief time a lady came out to explain that every Thursday the students are all required to go to a Convocation and so Thursday is the only day they don't have a 3pm tour. Oops. She said she would have two students there by 4pm after the Convocation and one of them could do a tour then if we cared to wait. Or we could come back on Friday. We chose to wait and she showed us into the little Visitor's Center theater to view the movie about Berea College.
This is an amazing small college. Founded by a man name Lee who was a minister. He believed that all men were created equal. This was during the time of the Civil War and many people did not believe that way. He was given a piece of land by Cassius Clay (not the one who later changed his name to Mohammed Ali). On this land he built a church and began to practice his religious beliefs, open to all races and nationalities of people. Eventually this church had a school and over the years and through lots of history this became Berea College. The College still operates on this basic premise that all men are equal (women are included in that phrase by the way). It is difficult to get in. Our tour guide said there were 1500 applicants for the time he applied and only 50 were accepted. The focus is mostly on Appalachian youth with low incomes but really ready for college. There is no football team but they seem to have every other sport covered. The students pay no tuition. They are expected to work 15-20 hours per week. The money they would earn covers room, books and board. We toured one large chapel in which the Convocation is held every Thursday and another small chapel that looked like it came from England. This smaller chapel is used by students of any faith to hold services or to just go in and worship. Claude and I totally enjoyed our tour, our tour guide and learning about this unique college.
In the rush of getting to where we thought we needed to be at the time we thought we needed to be there, I forgot to take my camera out of my craft bag. It was in the car during the entire tour of the college. I did take this one picture with my cell phone of one of the buildings of Berea College used for classes now.
Dinner was scrumptious. It was included in our package with the exception of the tip for the server. We each had tomato bisque with black-eyed peas. Then we split a fried green tomato salad. My entree was salmon and Claude had scallops. Throughout we were served spoon bread right from the pan to our bread plates. We opted to each have our own dessert. I had a chocolate cake (no surprise there) with a chocolate center filling full of walnuts and a white icing with a touch of caramel in it. Claude had the bread pudding (no surprise there either) with a fruit topping. We did ask for a wheelbarrow to carry us to our rooms but that was NOT included.
We waddled out to the veranda and found two rocking chairs facing the street and sat and rocked and enjoyed the cool of a summer evening Southern style. After rocking for a bit a couple about our age came noisely around the corner. The wife looked at me and point and said, "You're in my seat." I looked at her and said, "I feel like I'm in an episode of Big Bang Theory." They were obviously aware of that TV sitcom and we all had a good laugh. Turns out her hubby was in Berea for training, they were staying at the Inn and she had occupied my rocker during the day while he was in training. I did not give up my rocker.
We eventually headed upstairs to our room. This lovely old historic inn has done a renovation so it is Kentucky's first LEED certified green hotel. A bit of history about Boone's Tavern and Inn. Originally the president of Berea College's wife was the hostess for out-of-town visitors. After doing this for some time, Nellie Frost, the then president's wife, told her hubby he could build something where these guests could be taken care of or get a new wife. He chose to build something and that was Boone Tavern and Inn. The name Boone was chosen because it was on the Daniel Boone Trail. The word Tavern does not denote a place to drink like we normally would think of it. In that day (1909) it was a place to house guests as a hotel. I've blogged about Boone Tavern when my Countryside Homemakers went there for lunch in June of this year. Lots of pictures can be found on that Blog entry.
Friday morning we slept in as check-out time wasn't until 11am and we felt we wanted to enjoy our comfortable surroundings for as long as we could. We walked down the street and browsed through the shops. Found a few Christmas gifts. Then we headed to the Log Cabin Craft Store. Found a few more Christmas gifts. By then our dinner from the night before had worn down to a point we thought lunch might be in order. We entered the Main Street Cafe from the back and had a nice light lunch. Then we were off for the next portion of our adventure.
While researching things to do in the Berea area, I found a place called Tater Knob Pottery. The name was the big draw for me. I printed directions. This would be our next goal. The drive would take us through the Knob Region of Kentucky. The Knobs Region borders the Bluegrass Region and is horseshoe shaped. It is the smallest of Kentucky's six regions. The Knobs are cone-shaped or rounded hills formed from escarpments. It is just beautiful to drive through.
After one wrong turn we found Tater Knob Pottery. It is way, way back in these mountains. It is owned and operated by Jeff Enge and Sarah Culbreth. We happened to have passed Sarah on a very narrow bit of the road up to their place. She came back to see if she could help us. She was a delight to visit with. We watched her 'throw' three different kinds of pottery. While she worked that clay she talked away and we talked away. It felt like Sarah was a kindred spirit kind of friend. We purchased lots of stuff for ourselves at this place. It was a highlight of our Friday.
Before we left, Sarah pulled out a brown paper lunch bag. On it she drew a map for us to follow for a fun drive in the country the rest of the afternoon. She also autographed the map and said, "Someday this will be worth something." I shall save the bag...just in case. The drive would take us through the Red Lick area. A place that has the name 'lick' in it is simply a place where salt was on the surface and animals would come there to lick and get the salt needed in their diet. The end of our drive would take us to the Red River Furnace. This an iron furnace used for four years between 1869 and 1873. Claude learned how it all worked and shared his knowledge with me as I took pictures of this lovely old edifice. They have placed a roof over it and some drainage pipes down the back to help preserve it a little longer. We walked all around and inside of this old building.
Nestled in the grass in front of the Red River Furnace was a group of mushrooms.
We both entered our home tired but refreshed from a fun couple of days enjoying each other's company, learning some new things and seeing some of the beauty with which we are surrounded. Happy Birthday, Claude Jay!!
Takin' Care of My Boys...
This year my boys, Claude & Papa, each had that lovely medical procedure called a colonoscopy. I was the care giver for each as they went through this experience. Claude's was on May 22nd and Papa's was October 2nd. Fortunately, I did not have to have one. Thank heaven for tender mercies!!
I have been torn about posting about this. It is a fact of caring for one's health. But I wouldn't want to deliberately be insensitive to either of my guys. However, I did take a picture of each of them before they went in for their procedures. Aren't they just the cutest??
As fate would have it, they both had the same doctor and were in the same room before this procedure. Dr. Robbins is a very good doctor and took great care of each of them.
They each did fine. I was particularly concerned with Papa. He is 84 years old. They don't usually do a colonoscopy on a person in that age bracket. But there were enough concerns till it was determined the procedure needed to be done. Claude goes back in 5 years for another. Papa doesn't have to have anymore unless his doctor really thinks he needs one.
Caring for these two important men in my life is a lot of work sometimes. But they love me and care for me right back. That my friends is the true circle of life.
I have been torn about posting about this. It is a fact of caring for one's health. But I wouldn't want to deliberately be insensitive to either of my guys. However, I did take a picture of each of them before they went in for their procedures. Aren't they just the cutest??
They each did fine. I was particularly concerned with Papa. He is 84 years old. They don't usually do a colonoscopy on a person in that age bracket. But there were enough concerns till it was determined the procedure needed to be done. Claude goes back in 5 years for another. Papa doesn't have to have anymore unless his doctor really thinks he needs one.
Caring for these two important men in my life is a lot of work sometimes. But they love me and care for me right back. That my friends is the true circle of life.
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