Food.....

Uh ohh, I lied, we did not sing the song "How can I keep from Singing" last week, sorry.  I still love it and we sang it in choir practice.  I love to keep a song in my heart at all times!  The choir did sing in Sacrament, but it was "Help me Teach with Inspiration", which is 281 in the Hymnal.  I love the words to that also.  Look it up sometime.  The Hymns have such meaningful words, I love to "listen" to the meaning of the hymn, not just sing it. 

Elder McOmber had a rough week so he was happy that he  FINALLY got his Fedora hat.  He ordered it December 20, 2012 and it came in February 20, 2013.  They said it would take 1-2 weeks, then because of Christmas it was delayed, then ,,,,,,, then ,,,,,,,then,,,,,finally it came and he is very happy to have it. The president said he can wear it because of the precancerous spots he had removed from his face in December.   

Elder McOmber on the roof

We delivered a bike to some sisters and they came out to put it in the garage and forgot their keys in their apartment.  It is gated and Elder McOmber, rather than drive back to the office for the extra key, climbed over the roof and jumped down to open the gate.

We got 3 new missionaries this week-mid transfer.  They are coming as soon as the MTC feels they are ready.  These three did not have a problem with languages so they did not need to spend so much time in the MTC.  There is a very cute sister from Japan and two Spanish speaking Elders.  Their pictures did not turn out from my camera.  We are still expecting 34 more missionaries in March. 
I like to ask my grandchildren what they do for others during their school day.  I need to answer that question daily myself.  This week food seemed to be the big event both given and received.
"The needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone."  Pres. Thomas S. Monson, October 2009

My dear friends, Sister Rothschild and Sister Reynolds and I made lunch for the Zone Leader's Conference.  Usually Sister Bubert, the president's wife does this, but they had a daughter get married last week and she has gone to Utah to a reception.
They did most of the work.  We had a baked potato bar.  They teased that I probably helped pick the potatoes in Idaho.

Amy Reynolds helped in the kitchen also.  She helps in the office before going to work her regular job.  She is such a hard worker and is a BIG help.  She is so willing to serve doing anything asked of her and looks for ways to help.

Some of our elders eating.  Food is an important part of missionary work--must keep them healthy.

Elder Smith and Elder Mann.  We had the elders and sisters to our place for dinner one night this week.   Both are converts and are wonderful missionaries.  Elder Mann knows our dear friends, the Murray's. ( Lonnie's best friend who died and his wife Terry and Elder Mann had seminary with Mariah).

Sister Bradshaw and Sister Robinson  We had bacon wrapped chicken,( Thanks Amy Rix for the recipe/idea.), mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and orange dreamcycle cake.

Saturday night we were invited to Dave and Trish Edgar's home for dinner.  It was fun being around the kids, Matthew(9), Evie(8), Sophie(5), and Bella(3)

Elder giving a spiritual thought at the end of the evening.  This is Dave and Trish.  The food was very yummy.  She is a gourmet cook. We had a wonderful time listening to Dave tell stories of his mission in Bulgaria in 1992.  It was a lot of fun! 

 

"When you take the path that climbs, that harder path of the Savior, there are rewards along the way. When you do something right, when you resist temptation, when you meet a goal, you will feel very good about it. It is a very different kind of feeling than you have when you violate commandments--an altogether different feeling. It brings a measure of peace and comfort and provides encouragement to press on." Richard G. Scott, "Finding the Way Back", Ensign, May 1990

I like the good feelings of service....how about you?

How can I keep from singing?

"The Lord is in all of our lives. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help. As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us."

Thomas S. Monson, "Consider the Blessings",  Ensign, November 2012
I know my Savior loves us and wants to bless us.  I have a song in my heart praising him.  We keep a prayer in our hearts continually!

This is what my honey gave me for Valentine's Day.  He is so sweet.  He also fixed up a new recycled cupboard for my medical supplies.  So much easier to find things and see what I have.

Some snow and hugs and love from Idaho in my office,,,,Thank you Very Much!

Tuesday we went to the Temple with some of our missionaries.  We drove some of our sisters.  We love going with the Elders and Sisters.  There is a special spirit. 

There are flowers blooming year round in Southern California.

How can I keep from singing?

My life flows on in endless song,

Above earth’s lamentations,
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation,
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear the music ringing,
It finds an echo in my soul,
How can I keep from singing?
 
What though my joys and comforts die? 
The Lord, my Savior liveth,
What though the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night He giveth,
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that Refuse clinging,
Since Christ is Lord of hea’n and earth,
How can I keep from singing?

I lift mine eyes, the clouds grows thin,

I see the blue above it,
And day by day this pathway smoothes,
Since first I learned to love it,
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain every springing,
All things are mine since I am His,
How can I keep from singing?
How can I keep from singing?

I am fortunate to be able to sing in our ward choir.  This is the song that we are singing this week.  I love it.  Elder McOmber goes along, grumbling, only because he doesn't know how to read music.  He is developing a talent I tell him.

You can see the "Hollywood" hill sign from the Temple.

Way off in the distance on the hill is the Hollywood sign.  Our sisters pointed it out to us.  We had never noticed it before.

Elder Jesperson is helping Elder McOmber and in the office for a few weeks.. Elder McOmber's  shoulder is bothering him(arthritis).  Elder Jesperson is helping when Lonnie can't pick up boxes, mattresses, etc. 

Elder Jesperson and Elder McOmber refinishing a table.

Saturday, P day, we went to Heritage park.  It is a cute park for young kids, built like the town Paul Revere rode through announcing the "British are coming".  We just walked around.  They have slides coming out of buildings and fake boats with lots of turtles and ducks.

"Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others."

Thomas S. Monson, "Because He Came", Broadcasts, December 2011
 

Life is a mission.

We are having roses bloom all year long.  This is with the morning dew.  Our tomatos and peppers stopped producing now.

Sister Butler, another Senior Missionary in our mission said that "Life is a Mission", is something she always tells her kids.  It gave me food for thought.  Yes, life is a mission, we were sent here to earth from our Father in Heaven's presence to learn and grow and then share our knowledge, whether it be with our family, friends or someone we meet on the street.  We are so fortunate to have the restored Gospel and be able to share it and live it!

Another thing that got me thinking this week was the Relief Society lesson last Sunday.  Our RS president taught from a talk by Wendy Watson Nelson  titled "What Would a Holy Woman Do?" 

"The words "House of the Lord, Holiness to the Lord" are found on every Mormon temple around the world. It was during the rededication of the Nuku’alofa Tonga Temple that those words had a profound impact on Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, wife of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After much reflection and study upon the word "holiness," Sister Nelson initiated a three-day experiment. ....Women were asked to choose one of their daily activities and try to be holy while doing it or rather do it as a holy woman would do it for three days. They could choose to focus on one different thing each day or the same thing each day.
Some questions that helped guide the participants include:

How would a holy woman manage the daily activities of her life?

How would a holy woman handle conflicts?

What would a holy woman listen to, read or watch?"  There is more to her talk, it is on CD. but it sure got me thinking.  What would a Holy Woman do on a mission?  Am I doing everything that I can to be the Lord's hands? 

President Bubert with some of our elders.  The big guy in the middle is one of our newest elders, Elder Pina.

This week we received into our mission 21 wonderful young people.  One was postponed.  The president had everything under control and it worked wonderfully.  He placed the sisters the day they came(he interviews each of them before placing them with their companions.)   He temporarily placed the elders for one night so he would have time to interview them the next day.  After interviewing them, they all went back to the place they had been temporarily placed. They all seemed happy to go back.  I visited with each of them breifly, just to check to see if there is any way I can help them and to check on helath issues,  medication, etc.  They are all delightful.  Elder McOmber and Elder Rothschild worked hard to make sure they all had beds to sleep in and are working on getting everyone bikes.  It was a few late nights this week, but it is good to report to the Lord at night that we did the best we could.

Elder Tolman, one of our wonderful APs.  This is the board that tells where all our Elders and Sisters are serving.  We  just filled the top fold out white boards until recently.  Now we fill all the top and the two on the floor as well.  Next transfer we will have to get more white boards for the incoming!  The APs and President have divided areas to accomadate the increasing numbers of missionaries coming to our mission, as I am sure all missions are doing.

Elder Walker, our newest AP, deep in thought.  They have work hard with their missionary work and being APs.

We took Sister Afualo to have her eyes checked.  She is from Samoa.

Sister Afualo's companion, Sister Ackerman,  was working on her Planner while waiting for Sister Afualo.
Sister Ackerman is one of our newest missionaries.  She is from Shelly, ID and knows our dear friend,
 Sister Mavanee Steele.

Sister Afualo in her new glasses.

Usually our missionaries do not wear sunglasses, but she had had her eyes dialated so it was a necessity for a few hours.  Luckily it was planning after lunch so she was inside.

We would like to put bubble wrap around our Elders and Sisters.  We don't like having to spend time in the ER worrying about them!  We do love them all.

It's the Little Things that make the Big Difference!

.

     We are happy for the little thing, that do make the big difference.  We never know when we are the answer to some else's prayers. 

Elder McOmber is happy to be "home"!  He came home from Texas and his father's funeral.

Robert McOmber, Pat Ledbetter, Lonnie McOmber, Brothers and sister.  Missing is Lonnie's twin, Ronnie McOmber.

Aunt Wanda and Elder McOmber.  He was happy to visit family.

Lonnie's Mom, it was good for Lonnie to be able to visit his Mom.

  

    Cowboy wisdom…A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how bless you are. 

 

      Speaking of smiling often.  Our Elders and Sisters make us smile often.  Elder Tamacas and his companion did service all day with 2 other Elders and Elder Rothschild and Elder McOmber.  There are so many new elders and sisters coming in, so the mission had to get more bunk bed, dressers, etc.  They all did a lot of work and heavy lifting.  They are such good workers!

They used a U-haul truck to get the things and put them in storage.  Then they used the mission pick up to take the bedding around to the new homes that they are opening.  We are getting 22 new Elders and Sisters on Tuesday and then in March there are 36 as of this time that are coming.  Only 8 going home Tuesday and very few in March. 

      When Elder Tamacas got back to his apartment, there was a birthday present from some unknown person.  He called Elder McOmber and asked if we wanted to come to supper at his apartment, he was having chicken; then Elder McOmber heard the chicken in the background--it was still alive.   They had been teasing each other all day, so he asked if Elder McOmber was "in" on the joke.....He knew nothing about it, but we went over.  I was afraid of diseases, etc.

The card says "Feliz Birthday, Elder Tamacas"

Who would give him that for a birthday present?????  He gave it to a member's family and they fixed it  for supper the next night for the Elders. 

 

They put the chicken into two milk crates to transport it out.

    

"It is no ordinary blessing to live in these latter days. These are glorious times, foreseen by ancient prophets and attended by watchful, angelic hosts. The Lord is mindful of His Church. He is also mindful of those who... follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and join with their brothers and sisters the world over in helping to bring forth this great work of God."  Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "A Great Work of God",  Ensign, April 2010

     It is wonderful being on a mission.  We feel we have been blessed.  We are able to visit our family when needed.  The president says that what a "Senior mission" is about.   Chad called and let us know he was having his hip replaced on February 1st.  We were able to go down to San Diego and help the day he had surgery and came home the next day.  Lonnie was able to help fix a couple things around Chad's home and I made cookies with the kids.  He is only 38 years old, too young to have such an old body!  There was no cartilage on his femur, this was needed. 

This is his first walk with his bionic body the day after surgery.  Would that guy be able to hold him up if he fell?

Chad and Lonnie talking with a friend.

Chad had a trapeze above him that was too close to help him move and he would bend the bar holding it to try to move.  Hopefully it doesn't break and smack him in the face!  I had many calls from my "favorite" Elders (They are all my favorites).

We took the grand kids to the park to scooter around and feed the ducks.

 

  There was a security question on some Internet site that I needed to go on.  The question was.."What is your least favorite job?"  I couldn't remember what I put down when I set it up.  I don't have a least favorite job, unless it was cleaning the bathroom, and it did not accept that.   I have loved all my jobs, from working in a grocery store, to teaching, to nursing, to being a missionary.  I have been blessed to have had many jobs that I have loved!

       Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. D&C 64:33

A missionary's mom wrote this to me that touched my heart.

"I just read your new info on missionary moms.  My son, Elder Sheanshang, told us 
that you drove he and his two companions to the sealing at the Los Angeles temple in 
November.  My favorite line was when he said that you drove in the honda CRX with 
"Us three big guys in the back",  He told us that being in that temple with 
that family being sealed was the best day of his life.  He said he was so nervous about 
translating and that you told him it would be all right and to rely on the spirit. (He 
said that was easy for you to say, and that he was soooo nervous, especially since his 
Spanish was not that good!)  He told us that when the sister heard him trying to find 
someone else to translate, she told him that she wanted him to translate and all his 
fears went away and he was humbled that she really wanted him, and not that he was a last 
choice.  And you were right, he said "my father helped me so much".  He said he 
had never been to any sealing, let alone one in Spanish, but that during the sealing he 
understood his purpose in life and that his whole life changed.  It was such a wonderful 
letter to receive and I wanted to share some of it with you, and to thank you for the 
help you give to our missionaries.  I love my son, and I am grateful that people are 
there to help him, thanks again, Julie 

Elder Lindsey and Elder George at the baptism of Joan.  This is why we want to keep the Elders and Sisters healthy and happy.  They all are great people.