We went to Right Aid and had our pictures taken for our Peru visa. Mine was ugly, but it will probably do.
I worked most of the day on inputting Community Chorus music into NWC.
We swam.
FHE—Jackie—We watched four episodes of The West Wing.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday 28-09-2008
I got to direct the music in sacrament meeting. Sterling Ellsworth, the called director, has moved away. It gave me mixed feelings. I was sad he moved away—he is an interesting man and a good friend—but I do enjoy directing the music.
I taught Sunday School class. The lesson was on the spirit world. It went well, and there was a lot of participation from the class. My one disappointment was that Brock Beers, a new member, has received a calling to work in the Primary. I have really enjoyed Brock in our class. Still, I am glad for his new calling.
Choir was good. I got a ride home with Bishop Greth.
I napped a little and finished inputting What Think Ye into Noteworthy Composer.
Chuck and Beth and girls came to celebrate Jackie’s birthday.
Jackie made fettuccini and meatballs, Jello salad, and lemon meringue pie. (Beth had offered to cook for her birthday, but Jackie always insists on cooking her own birthday meal.)
Jackie got Beth caught up in the new family search dot org, and they stayed here until 2150 (9:50 pm).
Joe answered my email. He called my poem awesome! He gave me a couple of suggestions, which I have already incorporated into it.
I taught Sunday School class. The lesson was on the spirit world. It went well, and there was a lot of participation from the class. My one disappointment was that Brock Beers, a new member, has received a calling to work in the Primary. I have really enjoyed Brock in our class. Still, I am glad for his new calling.
Choir was good. I got a ride home with Bishop Greth.
I napped a little and finished inputting What Think Ye into Noteworthy Composer.
Chuck and Beth and girls came to celebrate Jackie’s birthday.
Jackie made fettuccini and meatballs, Jello salad, and lemon meringue pie. (Beth had offered to cook for her birthday, but Jackie always insists on cooking her own birthday meal.)
Jackie got Beth caught up in the new family search dot org, and they stayed here until 2150 (9:50 pm).
Joe answered my email. He called my poem awesome! He gave me a couple of suggestions, which I have already incorporated into it.
I woke up this morning with a poem in my mind and it poured onto the electronic paper of my pda:
Sun of sackcloth black, and bloody
Moon of mournful red.
Stars are falling, Saints are calling,
“Come, Great Day of Dread.
Put an end to politics,
Put an end to pelf.
Raise the dead, give poor the bread,
Put down despotic Self. ”
“Nay, not ‘til nascent gods are gathered,
Twelve thousand strong per tribe,
And My good-news laws are lathered
Through all the world wide.”
It feels to me like there ought to be more to it, but that is all I have for now.
I emailed it to our son, Joe, who is a poet, and asked him for his critique.
I worked on What Think Ye most of the morning and afternoon.
Jackie went at 1230 or so to North Bend for women’s conference.
I walked to Fred Meyers and purchased a new pair of dress shoes.
I watched our To Catch a Thief video. It is better when you can understand all the [English] words. It was hard to hear last night when traffic was passing on the highway.
Sun of sackcloth black, and bloody
Moon of mournful red.
Stars are falling, Saints are calling,
“Come, Great Day of Dread.
Put an end to politics,
Put an end to pelf.
Raise the dead, give poor the bread,
Put down despotic Self. ”
“Nay, not ‘til nascent gods are gathered,
Twelve thousand strong per tribe,
And My good-news laws are lathered
Through all the world wide.”
It feels to me like there ought to be more to it, but that is all I have for now.
I emailed it to our son, Joe, who is a poet, and asked him for his critique.
I worked on What Think Ye most of the morning and afternoon.
Jackie went at 1230 or so to North Bend for women’s conference.
I walked to Fred Meyers and purchased a new pair of dress shoes.
I watched our To Catch a Thief video. It is better when you can understand all the [English] words. It was hard to hear last night when traffic was passing on the highway.
Friday 26-09-2008
I took a walk over to the clubhouse while Jackie picked berries in the berry patch in our back yard.
In the afternoon, we swam, and it felt good.
We watched Bertie and Jeeves, last episode.
In the evening we went to the Bill and Luelle Scott’s to watch a classic outdoor movie, To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. We could have stayed home—we have that one, but it is not as much fun to watch it alone at home.
In the afternoon, we swam, and it felt good.
We watched Bertie and Jeeves, last episode.
In the evening we went to the Bill and Luelle Scott’s to watch a classic outdoor movie, To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. We could have stayed home—we have that one, but it is not as much fun to watch it alone at home.
Thursday 25-09-2008
Leon Tilton came to repair the range top. A month or two ago Jackie accidentally broke off one of the knobs on the range top. We have been managing by using a pair of pliers for that burner. We were pleased to see Leon. However, the replacement control he had didn’t fit. He said he would order a new part and come back. (sigh!)
The MTC language tutorial supervisor called to set up telephone tutoring in Spanish.
We called the BYU Bookstore and ordered books that we think we will need for the tutoring.
We received a mailing from the Church Travel Office. It gave us until 20 August 2008 J to apply for our visa from the Peruvian embassy. We called the travel office and straightened out that the real date should have been 29 October 2008.
We went to swim, but neither of us felt up to it, so we soaked in the hot tub spa, instead.
We called Arizona Vital Records for two copies of our marriage certificate. That is going to be a problem again, it appears.
The missionaries came to dinner: Chili and cornbread with apple crisp for dessert.
In addition to ward choir, community chorus, I am also involved in a choral presentation called What Think Ye of Christ. It is being presented by its author, Dean Hamill, who is a good friend and a member of our ward. We practice once a week on alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays. I worked on entering the music into my Noteworthy Composer. It is a lot of work, but I enjoy it, and it enables me to practice the songs at home using my computer.
The MTC language tutorial supervisor called to set up telephone tutoring in Spanish.
We called the BYU Bookstore and ordered books that we think we will need for the tutoring.
We received a mailing from the Church Travel Office. It gave us until 20 August 2008 J to apply for our visa from the Peruvian embassy. We called the travel office and straightened out that the real date should have been 29 October 2008.
We went to swim, but neither of us felt up to it, so we soaked in the hot tub spa, instead.
We called Arizona Vital Records for two copies of our marriage certificate. That is going to be a problem again, it appears.
The missionaries came to dinner: Chili and cornbread with apple crisp for dessert.
In addition to ward choir, community chorus, I am also involved in a choral presentation called What Think Ye of Christ. It is being presented by its author, Dean Hamill, who is a good friend and a member of our ward. We practice once a week on alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays. I worked on entering the music into my Noteworthy Composer. It is a lot of work, but I enjoy it, and it enables me to practice the songs at home using my computer.
Wednesday 24-09-2008
We filled out our acceptance letters, signed them, and I took them to Bishop Greth for his signature.
He signed them (though he said he did so reluctantly) and then we talked for a long time, trying to find an answer to my home teachee, Karon Guiterrez’s question:
Where does it say that a woman can be married in the next life if she had no chance for it in this?
We finally decided that she would have to be satisfied with:
(Book of Mormon Moroni 10:5)
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
I went home, and Jackie and I swam and watched two episodes of The West Wing.
In the evening I went to community chorus. It meets at the Presbyterian church and there will only be one concert on December 14 at 1400 (2:00 pm), obviously a Christmas concert.
As we were singing about the wise men, I felt a strong desire to tell them all about Nephi, Lehi, and Samuel, the Lamanite, and why I believe they were the three wise men. But I also felt a strong impression to hold my peace, since they would not understand. After all, I am the only Latter-day Saint in the chorus.
He signed them (though he said he did so reluctantly) and then we talked for a long time, trying to find an answer to my home teachee, Karon Guiterrez’s question:
Where does it say that a woman can be married in the next life if she had no chance for it in this?
We finally decided that she would have to be satisfied with:
(Book of Mormon Moroni 10:5)
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
I went home, and Jackie and I swam and watched two episodes of The West Wing.
In the evening I went to community chorus. It meets at the Presbyterian church and there will only be one concert on December 14 at 1400 (2:00 pm), obviously a Christmas concert.
As we were singing about the wise men, I felt a strong desire to tell them all about Nephi, Lehi, and Samuel, the Lamanite, and why I believe they were the three wise men. But I also felt a strong impression to hold my peace, since they would not understand. After all, I am the only Latter-day Saint in the chorus.
Tuesday 23-09-2008
I established myself this blog spot to post my diary. I have never done a blog before. It may take some getting used to. I made it to start last Friday, September 19, when our call would have arrived in the mail. Of course, we were en route to SLC, but it was there, waiting for us in our mailbox.
We swam at the clubhouse pool.
We came home and watched another episode of The West Wing.
We bought fuel and drove to Coos Bay for dinner with Chuck and Beth and the girls. We called Ruth and Jared and opened our call: Arequipa, Peru. We enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC) December 29, 2008.
Jackie pumped the air and cried, “YES!” We were both pleased. That was exactly what and when she had requested.
We swam at the clubhouse pool.
We came home and watched another episode of The West Wing.
We bought fuel and drove to Coos Bay for dinner with Chuck and Beth and the girls. We called Ruth and Jared and opened our call: Arequipa, Peru. We enter the Missionary Training Center (MTC) December 29, 2008.
Jackie pumped the air and cried, “YES!” We were both pleased. That was exactly what and when she had requested.
Monday 22-09-2008
Nick brought Merle in a kennel and two duffel bags to us at 0405 am. I had not even gotten out of my pajamas. We only had a couple of pieces of luggage, so there was plenty of room. Merle distinctly did not want to get into the kennel, but was obedient. When I put him in the back of the car, I felt impressed to explain to him that we were taking him to Bob and Kathy. Oddly, I felt he understood me. At least he calmed down and I left him in the car and went upstairs and finished getting ready to go.
We left Jared’s at 0450.
We bought fuel at Woods Cross, Mountain Home, and Burns.
Jackie bought herself breakfast at McD’s in Tremonton while I walked Merle.
I also walked him at rest stops: at the junction of I-84/86, Ontario, Drinkwater Pass, Burns, Bend, and the entrance to a ski park on 126, and finally just after Eugene.
We had planned to take Merle to Kathy and Bob Shykes’ home, but when we left Eugene, we were tired, and so was Merle. We called them and arranged to meet them at the church, instead. That was on our way home, and was a lot easier than trying to find their home way out south of town. When we arrived at the church, they were waiting. That was one very happy reunion. Merle had been an exceptionally obedient and patient dog all the way. He never barked and only whined when he needed to be taken for a little walk. But when we drove into the church parking lot, although it was dark and he was in his kennel in the rearmost part of the car, he recognized Bob, and began barking excitedly. Bob didn’t wait for me to even stop the car; he ran around to the back of the car and opened it and opened the kennel. Merle was beside himself with joy. And Bob and Kathy were, too, although they were a little more circumspect than Merle. Not much more, though. They showed us their rings and announced that they had renewed their vows on Sunday.
We got home and checked our mail. Our mission call was in the mailbox (finally!). We couldn’t open it, though, until we got to Chuck and Beth’s next day. I suggested to Jackie that we could always steam the envelope open and act surprised next day. But we were good. We waited. It seemed like Christmas Eve, what with the envelope sitting on the kitchen table unopened.
We called the kids and scheduled a conference call to open it at 1745 (5:45 p.m.) on Tuesday.
We watched one episode of The West Wing while eating a quickly prepared dinner of scrambled eggs and toast.
We left Jared’s at 0450.
We bought fuel at Woods Cross, Mountain Home, and Burns.
Jackie bought herself breakfast at McD’s in Tremonton while I walked Merle.
I also walked him at rest stops: at the junction of I-84/86, Ontario, Drinkwater Pass, Burns, Bend, and the entrance to a ski park on 126, and finally just after Eugene.
We had planned to take Merle to Kathy and Bob Shykes’ home, but when we left Eugene, we were tired, and so was Merle. We called them and arranged to meet them at the church, instead. That was on our way home, and was a lot easier than trying to find their home way out south of town. When we arrived at the church, they were waiting. That was one very happy reunion. Merle had been an exceptionally obedient and patient dog all the way. He never barked and only whined when he needed to be taken for a little walk. But when we drove into the church parking lot, although it was dark and he was in his kennel in the rearmost part of the car, he recognized Bob, and began barking excitedly. Bob didn’t wait for me to even stop the car; he ran around to the back of the car and opened it and opened the kennel. Merle was beside himself with joy. And Bob and Kathy were, too, although they were a little more circumspect than Merle. Not much more, though. They showed us their rings and announced that they had renewed their vows on Sunday.
We got home and checked our mail. Our mission call was in the mailbox (finally!). We couldn’t open it, though, until we got to Chuck and Beth’s next day. I suggested to Jackie that we could always steam the envelope open and act surprised next day. But we were good. We waited. It seemed like Christmas Eve, what with the envelope sitting on the kitchen table unopened.
We called the kids and scheduled a conference call to open it at 1745 (5:45 p.m.) on Tuesday.
We watched one episode of The West Wing while eating a quickly prepared dinner of scrambled eggs and toast.
Sunday 21-09-2008
We picked up Ruth at 0815 and drove to Ed & Ann’s church arriving at 0850.
Enjoyed participating in high priests class re the plan of salvation.
I was amused, (as were many of them) that the elders quorum was challenging them to a game of flag football. The group leader asked if anyone would volunteer to captain the team. No one was responding, so I volunteered to captain their team, telling them that I would be leaving next morning and going back to Oregon. J
Sacrament meeting: Heather read a fine talk. I think she will be a fine missionary and will learn a lot about the Savior in the process.
We attended the back yard open house for Heather as she prepares to serve her mission to Dallas Texas.
I talked a long time with Lora & Robert and shared some of my ideas. I usually don’t feel free to discuss them, but I felt impressed to do so. It pleased me that they were appreciative.
We drove Ruth home and then almost fell asleep driving the few blocks to Jared’s condo.
Kathy Shykes’ son, Nick, called us about taking the dog, named Merle, back to Oregon with us. Kathy is a new member of the Church in our ward and was in my Gospel Principles Sunday School class. Her previously estranged husband, Bob, was visiting her, and attended for the first time with her last Sunday, and when I mentioned we would be going to Utah the next week, he and Kathy literally begged me to bring them their dog. After talking to Jackie, we decided to do them the service, provided their son bring the dog to us between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. on Monday morning. Nick said that would be no problem, since he gets off work at 2:00 a.m. I gave him directions to Jared’s condo, and he agreed to be there at the appointed time.
I then took a much needed nap.
At 8:00 p.m. we had family devotional. Our lesson was Elder Bednar’s general conference talk and 2Nephi 18:20, both about prayer.
Enjoyed participating in high priests class re the plan of salvation.
I was amused, (as were many of them) that the elders quorum was challenging them to a game of flag football. The group leader asked if anyone would volunteer to captain the team. No one was responding, so I volunteered to captain their team, telling them that I would be leaving next morning and going back to Oregon. J
Sacrament meeting: Heather read a fine talk. I think she will be a fine missionary and will learn a lot about the Savior in the process.
We attended the back yard open house for Heather as she prepares to serve her mission to Dallas Texas.
I talked a long time with Lora & Robert and shared some of my ideas. I usually don’t feel free to discuss them, but I felt impressed to do so. It pleased me that they were appreciative.
We drove Ruth home and then almost fell asleep driving the few blocks to Jared’s condo.
Kathy Shykes’ son, Nick, called us about taking the dog, named Merle, back to Oregon with us. Kathy is a new member of the Church in our ward and was in my Gospel Principles Sunday School class. Her previously estranged husband, Bob, was visiting her, and attended for the first time with her last Sunday, and when I mentioned we would be going to Utah the next week, he and Kathy literally begged me to bring them their dog. After talking to Jackie, we decided to do them the service, provided their son bring the dog to us between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. on Monday morning. Nick said that would be no problem, since he gets off work at 2:00 a.m. I gave him directions to Jared’s condo, and he agreed to be there at the appointed time.
I then took a much needed nap.
At 8:00 p.m. we had family devotional. Our lesson was Elder Bednar’s general conference talk and 2Nephi 18:20, both about prayer.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Saturday 20-09-2008
We picked up our daughter, Ruth, at her apartment and took her to breakfast at the Village Inn. They serve very good breakfasts there. Then we took the light rail train, called Trax, to the temple. It was a joy to walk into the chapel and meet Stuart (Kirk) Kirkpatrick. Soon we were joined by Elaine. Of course Mine and Tara Snow were already in the Creation room when the session started. What a joy to see Mine again, and all dressed in white. The session went well and was followed by the sealing of Mine to her husband, Hasan. We had to use a big sealing room because of all the friends that were in attendance, including the missionaries who taught and baptized their family in Malta.
We followed that session by all going to the Lion House (Brigham Young’s former residence, now made into a restaurant) for dinner. We all introduced ourselves and how we came to know Mine. It took quite a while. Mine has lots of friends in the USA. She capped it all by bearing her testimony, and then we all had to take pictures.
We followed that session by all going to the Lion House (Brigham Young’s former residence, now made into a restaurant) for dinner. We all introduced ourselves and how we came to know Mine. It took quite a while. Mine has lots of friends in the USA. She capped it all by bearing her testimony, and then we all had to take pictures.
Friday, 19-09-2008
This is Mount Washington as seen from the summit of Route 124, which is the scenic route into Sisters, Oregon. This route has been closed each time we have gone this way, so when we saw it was open we took it. It is slow and tortuous and winding, although shorter than the other way. We figure it added a half hour to our trip, but the scenery was worth it. The odd part was that when we got to the rest stop near Burns, Oregon, we were a half hour ahead of schedule.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)