Erik

Erik came to visit last week. He drove up from San Diego on Saturday October 30th.It was mostly an uneventful drive...except for that lousy ticket, but we won't discuss that. It was so great to see him. I was laughing because he brought all of his laundry with him to wash. As a Mom...that was perfect!!!!

We had tacos for dinner on Sunday and Barb and her son, Erik, joined us. Then of course we had to hit Erin's favorite place for dinner, Wingers! That was so yummy and we really enjoyed it.

I was so proud of Erik, he got a lot of studying done for his Actuary Exam, he really was determined and I am sure he will pass with no problem.

Erik and I went to our first NBA game to see the Utah Jazz beat the Toronto Raptors. It was so much fun, we took the Trax to the Arena and back and loved the game. We had nosebleed seats, but that didn't matter,the game was great and I was so happy to be able to spend the time with Erik.

He packed up and left on Thursday and Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed his visit. It was a joy to have him here. I love his sense of humor and so appreciate his willingness to drive for 12 hrs to get here.

We did have one really fun moment, as all trips have. When Erik got home he realized he had left every one of his shirts that he washed sitting here on the dryer. Needless to say I made a trip to the Post Office yesterday with a box of shirts. Isn't life such a great adventure.

Love you Erik!!!

Family

Last night I watched a movie, not anything special just one of those I like to watch now and again, but it reminded me so much of family and the importance of family. I also read a couple of posts that James put on his and Erin's blog. I am so grateful for my family. I love my parents, my siblings and their families, my children and my grandchildren. I don't consider my sons in law and daughter in law as in laws...they are my children too and I am so grateful for each of them. Perhaps it is that time of year with the holiday season approaching..I don't know what it is, but I am finding myself truly missing my family. I am so glad Mike understands the teary eyes on occassion and is so comforting and loving, it truly makes it easier.

I am grateful for technology that makes it so easy to keep in touch. Erin and her family finally have a text plan and I love texting back and forth with them. Kris called from Scotland today..amazing isn't it...all the way from Scotland and it didn't cost us a dime! Erik will text and keep me posted, Craig will call now and then and I keep up to date with them on Facebook too. I love to talk to my Mom and Dad and Mom is getting pretty good at FB. Robin, keeps in touch with me through emails, texts and photos. John and Skip have posted great photos of their new house and we keep in touch with phone and FB too....how blessed we are to have so many ways to be their for each other.

I guess I really just wanted to tell everyone how very much I love and miss you and think of you often. May the Lord watch over you this holiday season and may you continue to know the joy of FAMILY!

Tackling Excel

I finally got brave enough to take an Excel class. I get to walk down to LDS Business College and take the class. If nothing else it has made me more confident to play around with the program. Just think I will finally learn how to make an Excel Spreadsheet AND do formulas and functions. I am loving it. Tomorrow is the last day of the 2 day class. Hopefully I am still feeling as confident then. Wish me luck!

Wahoo!!

Ok...I know this may not be anything to post about, but I am so excited that I am going to post anyway. Yesterday I finished the first PowerPoint that my boss asked me to do. It is for a phone meeting he is having with the head of the S&I department and is to present our phone committee proposals on cell phones.

I was just so excited to complete it and have him like most of it. We made a few changes and will probably make a few on Tuesday, but WOW!! I am just so thrilled to learn something new....on to Excel!!!

What a job!!!

You know, it just doesn't get much better than this! I take the TRAX to downtown Salt Lake every work day and then walk the block to the Church Office Building. Today as I was walking between the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and the planters of flowers, I looked up in time to get a huge smile, wave and a cheery "Good Morning" from Elder L. Tom Perry! Now that made my day!!!

An Evening Out

Last night we decided that the weather was beautiful and a perfect night for taking some pictures of the mountains. Mike loves the mountains here in UT and I have to admit, when I see them now I feel at home. They are beautiful right now, so green and lush from the rains. In a few months they will be snow capped. I believe I like them best that way, but I am wondering if you can get snow capped mountains and avoid the snowed in streets....just a thought.

First Priesthood Lesson

First off, I want to say that I LOVE teaching.  I learn sooo much!!!
The lesson today was a success, at least, I believe it was. If I learn enough in preparation so that I have more information to share when I run out of time, that is a good thing. Add active participation from class members and I consider it a successful lesson.
This lesson was a great thing for me. It was based on the conference talk by Elder Oaks, Healing The Sick. It added a level of understanding that I did not previously have. It also clarified some notions that I did not realize I had.
One of those was that there is no added benefit in the blessing given by one person over another if both are worthy and willing to administer. In fact, there is a greater responsibility on the one being blessed to exercise their faith for healing than for those administering to give a "proper" blessing. The meaning behind the phrase: "Thy faith has made thee whole..." is truly what is important.
The other, and this is so glaringly obvious as to be a "no-brainer", is that nobody can countermand the will of God. Simply put, nobody can give a blessing that will alter the decision made by God for the person being blessed.
"They were on death's doorstep, but my blessing held them over and we had go back and remove it so they could pass on..."
I have often wondered about statements like this. It was cleared up for me by a passage in Doctrine and Covenants 42:48 that says: "he that hath faith in me to be healed and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed."
As a result of this I have found that when the I am not absolutely sure of what the spirit is prompting, it is acceptable to simply give a blessing of comfort and strength verbally recognizing the will of the Lord in the outcome. Ultimately, this recognition and acceptance is most important as our faith should not be dependent upon outcomes.

Sunday Morning

Today Mike gives his first lesson in the Elder's Quorum. I taught last week in Gospel Doctrine. We are both so grateful to have teaching jobs in the ward.

I read my kids blogs and they have so much to tell...life is just pretty quiet around here. We both love our jobs, and our ward, and the friends we are making here in UT.

I have to say that I am beginning to really love Utah, but then again it hasn't snowed yet. The mountains are so beautiful and majestic when snow covered, but I have a feeling the streets aren't.  This CA girl will have a lot to get used to once the first snow comes.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

WOW!

My girls are doing these great blogs so that everyone can keep up with the family adventures. I decided today to be a little adventurous and try one of my own. Well one for Mike and myself. Not that we are having any great adventures like moving to Scotland or Texas, but we do have some great things going on with our families and friends and I guess ourselves as well.

So, here is my start of a blog, will need advice along the way.