Short & Sweet Week...

Monday, May 12th, all I can say is "I must have been really sleepy." I didn't wake up until 10am. Not like me at all. I finished my weekly Blog. Then watched Amadeus with Claude and crocheted.

Katelyn sent us this picture of Raelyn. She was in the school play. She was Toto. Hence the brown net skirt, nose and ears with her hands (paws) held up. Her part had her crawl across the stage once at the beginning and once at the end. My knees hurt just thinking about that!!

Tuesday, May 13th, marked the anniversary of my reverse right should replacement surgery. One entire year. No big celebration of this event. Simply me being grateful for the movement I have gained back. Grateful for an excellent surgeon and physical therapy group. Grateful for great insurance that covered everything so very well. I feel richly blessed. I did celebrate myself with an extra Mello Yello!!

This day I did laundry and crocheted.

Wednesday, May 14th, we have had some rain. It felt particularly humid. I looked in the backyard and noticed we had mushrooms growing. This is not a usual event. It was like they were marching to the fairy tree.

I would being the PowerPoint of our Italy trip. Claude finally got me his writeup. Not I will, over time, combine his writeup with my pictures and make a PowerPoint of that trip. This is our scrapbook of this trip.

The best was a phone call in the evening from Laura, my sweet Friend who is battling breast cancer. Her pathology tests all showed they removed the cancer. Now to heal and then radiation. She is such a strong, positive example to me. Love this Lady.

Thursday, May 15th, Claude would cut the grass, which seems to be growing very fast this time of year. While he did that, I would crochet. 

In the evening we had our May Relief Society Activity. It was a trip to the Louisville Temple. There were two cars of us and eight sisters attending from the Elkhorn Creek Ward. What a delight. How grateful I am that we have a temple so close.

Juliana Christensen, Diane Tincher, Karen Raulston and Sandra Sexton.

Jennifer Barber, Lisa Adams, Crystal McLeod and Sandi Christensen

Friday, May 16th, was a rainy day so I spent my day crocheting. Thought I might go out and weed but there was too much water. These storms were horrible. We had a period of sunshine in the afternoon. There were tornados. Enough that Andie and Michael called to be sure we were okay. How sweet is that. 

I sent this picture as I crocheted to Laura. By the time I went to bed, I had added two more rows and started crocheting the squares for row eight. Yeah me!!

Saturday, May 17th, after I got up, I went to Facebook to post the Trivial Pursuit questions on our family Facebook page. The first thing on my newsfeed was a drone video of London, Kentucky as the sun was coming up. This city was practically leveled. I read one headline that said there were actually two tornados in one spot. They followed each other. That means the people in the path of these two storms were hit twice!! 

This weekend was Stake Conference. Claude and I would attend Leadership Training from 3pm - 5pm this day. Then attend the Adult Session from 6pm - 8pm. Elder Ahmad S. Corbett would preside. 

These are a few of my favorite phrases from the Saturday Leadership Training and the even Adult Session:

1. Covered in the dust of the Master - An older Jewish phrase was following the the dust of the Rabbi. Literally walking close enough to the Savior that the dust of his feet gets on you. You follow His teachings that closely. I like phrase that paint a mental picture for me. One comment from the audience suggested we take it a step further and think of the dust we are creaCu
2. Counsel for working with the youth was from a quote by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that went something like: "We underestimate their capacity and we overestimate their experience." As leaders, we need to be the training wheels to their bicycle. Let them do the work and be there so they don't fail. We can accomplish this best by asking questions. What will be the cost of your activity? Who will bring the decorations? etc.
3. Alma 5:15 -- We are taught to Look - Forward - with and eye of Faith - to View/See (the Lord's promises fulfilled). We should imagine ourselves when the Lord's promises are fulfilled. When we look forward with and eye of Faith, we have hope. The Lord's promises being fulfilled are like Pres. Russell M. Nelson's phrase "Think Celestial".

It was a great Saturday Stake Conference experience.

Sunday, May 18th, we had the morning session of Stake Conference. These are a few of my favorite phrases:

1. "There is Peace in Christ" - the Young Women from the stake sang this as a special musical number. I love this phrase.
2. "Join in the Family Business" was a phrase one of the apostles used in an address. We are all children of Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is our Savior and elder brother. We are all the same 'family'. They want us to be in and a part of the 'family business'. Great way to look at our discipleship in the church.
3. Several people over the two days mentioned taking or receiving a 'plate of cookies' to someone. I thought that cookies is a good way to glue us together. 
4. "Let us bear the Savior's cross" gave me pause. I have heard before that our commitment of sin makes us 'crucify the Savior anew'. That seems so negative. Living to help 'bear the Savior's cross' is very uplifting to me. 
5. Conferences are times of revelation. We should go to them ready to receive. We shouldn't put them aside as a week to do other things. We should put other things aside so we can go and receive the revelation we are seeking to our questions and worries. 
6. Alma 5:15, Alma 32:40 & 41. Alma 5:15 was discussed on Saturday regarding 'Looking forward with an eye of Faith to see the Lord's promises fulfilled". That topic was enlarged on Sunday using Alma 32 which gives an excellent description on Faith. We were counseled that 'beginning faith will not be enough in these days and times'. Verse 42 tells us that mature faith will allow us to pluck the fruit that is most precious and feast upon it till we are filled! 
7. We were counseled to 'be humble and with upon the Lord'. It is possible to feel we have received a revelation and misread it based on current condition. That revelation could be given to us and we need to 'wait upon the Lord's timing' for it to be fulfilled. To me, that is why we walk by faith. 
8. Finally, Elder Corbett gave a stirring explanation of Unity and its importance in today's world. He spoke of Satan striking at the very fiber of American causing us to be very divided as a nation. He cautioned that he was NOT given a political speech. The Book of Mormon is replete with the counsel that contention is of the devil. This contention causes disunity and division. That allows Satan to get in. He quoted the phrase "E pluribus unum" which means "out of many, one". This is the United States motto on our money. Unity. That is a good word.

A very good Stake Conference weekend.

We are home for the afternoon. This evening, we will go the Lexington Opera House to watch Black Jacket Symphony perform Jimmy Buffet music. 

It has been a good week. Lots of crochet with lots more to be done. Great spiritual cup-filling moments. A good week.

Music, Dentist, Feeling Poorly, Spring Flowers, New Adventure and Mother's Day...

Monday, May 5th, we spent our morning catching up from our trip. Laundry was done. Groceries were purchased. All was set in order to get back to a normal routine.

In the afternoon, we headed to Comstock Theater on the University of Louisville campus. Bailey was participating with the Oldham County High School Symphonic Band at the State KMEA (Kentucky Music Educators Association) Band Assessment. They qualified for this when the received all 'Distinguished' ratings at the District KMEA Assessment. How happy we were for this for Bailey's final year of high school. They would play three numbers: The Sinfonians, Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalieria Rusticano, and Psalm for Band. May favorite was the Intermezzo. After their performance, one of the adjudicators comes in to give the band some tips and compliments. They would once again receive all 'Distinguished' for their performance. What a great way to come to the end of your high school years after playing in band since 6th grade.  

Tuesday, May 6th, we had the morning to do things around our home. I completed my Blog about our Memphis trip, posted some things for my Relief Society calling, and read two more chapters in the Iliad. I will get through that book. I will get through that book. I will get through that book!! 

Claude had a dental appointment in the afternoon and I would take him to this one. He has a crown with a cavity developing under it. The tooth next to it has a root that has cracked. They would pull the old crown off, make a cast for a new crown and fit him with a temporary crown. Dr. Hollen would then pull the tooth with the cracked root. While all this was being done on my hubby, I drove myself to Panera and enjoyed my favorite salad there, Asian Sesame Chicken. Yum. Claude was actually in the dentist office for two hours. Ugh!! When he finished with took him home with instructions for meds and eating and drinking. We curled up in front of the television for the rest of the evening. Claude dozed a bit off and on.

Wednesday, May 7th, I had a bad night which made for a bad day. I was not feeling well at all. This was not a good time for that as I was to take care of Claude for a couple of days after his dental visit. 

Claude would curl up to watch Shogun. He loves this and it takes all day long to watch all of it. I do not like the first part as someone get boiled alive when they arrive in Japan. I would spend that time in Sandiland doing a little laptop work and sitting in my big chair watching my television in Sandiland. 

Later, I would join Claude and watch the last three DVD's of Shogun. We were such a sad pair this day.

Thursday, May 8th, I had another not so great day. Felt a little better than Wednesday, but not really myself. I did manage to get my application in for Global Entry. Yeah me! Not a total washout for this day.

Claude was able to get the grass cut in two bursts of energy. That meant dinner was going to be driving thru for hamburgers for our dinner. I do believe this was a great tradition to start. 

Friday, May 9th, I managed to get about two hours sleep the night before. But I had things that needed to be done this day. I got showered and ready and went to see Dr. Richardson, our ophthalmologist. He said I could continue to wear my readers. My vision is now 20/30. I do have cataracts that qualify for surgery. I can decided when I want to do that surgery. I will go back to see him in six months. Not sure about that surgery. I see fine most of the time. In certain lights my vision is fuzzy. I do need my readers for crocheting and reading. I can't see the writing on the television when I am searching for something the watch. I know my vision is not as good as it has been but I'm not sure about surgery just yet. We'll see what I feel like in six months.

Since my sleep was absolutely awful the night before, I came home from Dr. Richardson's and went to bed for a nice nap. I slept two hours. Yeah Me!

I went outside to check on our flowers. Claude noticed they were blooming when he cut the grass. They are really on the sides of the house and I don't walk there unless I am weeding. What a treat for my eyes.

In the evening, we traveled to LaGrange for Bailey's final Jazz Cafe with the Oldham County High School Jazz Band. It was excellent. This is such a fun format. Other schools do not do this. Everyone brings food to share. It is placed buffet-style. You can get up and get something to eat at anytime during the performance. The band plays for an hour. If someone plays a solo part, you are free to applaud for it. There is a 15-minute break and then they play for another set. It is simply delightful. After the performance, Mr. Klipper, the band teacher, had all the seniors stand. This is his first year at OCHS and he was very appreciative of the kids who love music and play with all their heart. Another fun thing was that Joyce, Michael's stepmother and another Grandmother for Bailey, flew in for this experience. It was fun to see Joyce again. (Good Grief...my pictures posted in reverse order. Please look at the bottom one first. Ugh!)

After the Jazz Cafe, we went to the Marx home so I could give Bailey and Andie haircuts. When we got there, I realized there was a poster in the yard recognizing Bailey, a senior, was living in this home. Cool.

Saturday, May 10th, was a fun day. Claude was ready to be about doing something. I keep links to places of interest in a text thread to myself. I had a place in Kentucky that was supposed to have good food. It was 1 1/2 hours away. We did a few things in the morning. Then we left for Glendale, Kentucky. We found The Whistle Stop Restaurant. They have a small dining space, so we had to wait for a table. Not a problem, there are benches along their Main Street. They use the text systems to alert you when your table is ready. 

We were seated at a booth in a cozy little corner. 

We order a small order of Fried Green Tomatoes. Had to be done at a Whistle Stop. Claude would eat Country Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes & Gravy. I would have the Veggie Plate. I picked Fried Okra, Broccoli Casserole, and Corn Pudding. We each had something they called Fried Cornbread. It is really a pancake made with some cornmeal in the batter. Each pancake is cut in half. You get four pieces of bread from two pancakes. The food was good old home cookin' Southern food. It was delicious. 

We had no room for dessert. So, we purchased a serving of Blackberry Cobbler and a serving of Peach Cobbler to be heated at home to eat. Each of those servings was big enough for two people. 

We did not shop in all the shops around. Several are antique places. But it would be fun to do that sometime. 

As we drove home, Claude was already plotting what he would order on his next trips to The Whistle Stop. I think he really enjoyed this little outing.

Sunday, May 11th, was Mother's Day. I struggle a bit with this day. As as young wife having babies every two years, I watched several other young wives my age struggle with not being able to have babies. It seems to have left a bit of a scar on me. Don't get me wrong, I think women should be honored and the role of Mother is the most important a woman can hold. I do believe the world fails without good mothers. I also really believe that, if my family didn't treat me well the other 364 days in a year, having only one day to honor would not be right. It is a challenge for my poor hubby who wants to get me a great gift, etc. It is just not important to me. He treats me well all the time. I can purchase as I see fit. It is an interesting day for us.

When I woke up, I checked my phone. The alarm had not gone off yet. I noticed a new text. I quickly looked to be sure about it. It was from Hayden wishing me a Happy Mother's Day. My first Mother's Day greeting was from my Grandson. How cool is that? Very!!

Sacrament Meeting was wonderful. The youth had been asked to be the speakers. It is always fun to turn and watch their parents a bit as they speak of their mothers. The Primary kids sang two songs. Jenny Squires and her daughter, Julianna, played a duet on the piano and cello respectively. The women 18 and over were all given chocolate candy bars from Kentucky Home Chocolates. 

Relief Society would be held in the cultural hall with all the ladies present. The Priesthood would cover their classes so we could all meet together. I got to church early to set up the back of the cultural hall for this. When I arrived at church, I went to the bench in the chapel where we usually sit. I took off my heels and put them on the bench. Then I walked barefoot to the cultural hall to set the room. At one point, Bishop stuck his head in the door to see what we were doing. I grinned and asked him if this was declared 'barefoot Sunday'. He chuckled. I then told him it was Mother's Day so I could choose to go barefoot if I wanted. He agreed with that whole-heartedly. 

We had a great Relief Society. There were 60 chairs set and everyone was full. Amazing. Cassie Zitter brought the right refreshments and we had two seminary tables full of food with pitchers of water. Jenessa Dymock, our Relief Society president conducted. The counseling question this day was to share an experience where a sisters helped you without sharing names. Several responses were shared. We watched a 3 minutes video clip of Pres. Kimball's wife, Camilla, reading his talk as he was not able to attend General Conference that time. He spoke of the importance of women and how important they would be in the future. Then Pres. Russell M. Nelson shared his comments that the day Pres. Kimball was referring to is our day. He stressed how important the role of women is in the family, church and the world. Excellent video. The sisters were then invited to enjoy refreshments and visit with each other. Good Relief Society experience. 

Claude took me to Chipotle's for our meal-of-the-day. I love beans and rice and get really good beans and rice at Chipotle's. Claude gave me chocolate covered strawberries and Lindor Truffles. 

Claude would take a nap and, while he was napping, Jake called and sang Happy Mother's Day to me. This is one tradition I love so very much. It brings tears to my eyes. We had a good conversation. 

Nissa mailed me a gift that arrived on Sunday. It was a crocheted turtle with a little sign on it. I love turtles. What a thoughtful gift. It will sit on the entertainment center in the living room.

In the evening, Andie and Bailey would call and we would have a good chat. I call this a very successful Mother's Day!

In the evening, Claude and I would watch a two episode documentary about The Judd's. Such a sad story.