Reflections

In our RS and Priesthood meetings today we discussed a conference talk called "Because My Father Read the Book of Mormon." It got Dad thinking about when he was Primary age in Colorado and how both his parents were working hard to help the branch there grow. That really impressed him. 

Then he wondered if our kids were impressed in a positive way by what we did, realizing that they could also have been turned off if their parents were too involved in church service.

Then he reflected about Mike and Brenda's family, since we were there yesterday and watched an interesting interaction. They had planned to go as a family to some pottery thing, but Mike came in and said he'd just found out about an Eagle's project he wanted to help with, plus it was yard debri day and the neighbor lady was having trouble getting hers transported to the drop off place with her car so he wanted to help her with his truck. Naturally the kids were right alongside helping too! 

At first Brenda was disappointed that family plans got set aside for service, but then he offered to take the kids to the Eagle's project so she could go to a RS function. Surely the kids had as much fun there with him as they would have had at the pottery thing. He is so service oriented that the kids will really catch on that that's how to live a happy life. 

Lastly Dad said, "And what do they learn from their mother? That a woman can be talented and accomplish whatever she wants to!" I also felt she was supportive of Mike (after expressing her disappointment).  She is service oriented too. Those kids could not have better examples.

A jaunt with Sheryl and Jonathan

Sheryl and Jonathan came for a little visit and to pick up our old dryer (so I could get a new fancy one). We took a picnic and drove out past Alsea to look at a piece of land. They're thinking of buying a piece of land for an investment and maybe put a mobile home on it some day and retire there. This was a beautiful area although the land has lots of old vehicles and junk left on it that would need to be cleaned up. 

Good news! Jonathan says his job is coming back full time May 1st. Sheryl says they want to keep on living like they have the last few months so they can save more. They are a good example of provident living.

Now for an example of improvident living--for the first time in our married life our washer and dryer actually match!

He lives!

And we will too.

April Fool's Day

Today I signed up for Weightwatchers. No fooling.

Ken and Polly invited me to a meeting last week and I liked their principles and practices. For those interested, here's what they are:

First you are assigned points based on your height, weight, gender, age, and level of activity. I can eat 20 points/day. There's a weekly slush fund of 35 points for special occasions. 

You need to include 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 of milk products, 2 of lean proteins, 5 glasses of fluids, and a multi vitamin pill each day.

Foods are assigned points based on fiber, calories and fat grams.  For example, a small apple is 1 point. Most vegetables are 0 points. One half candy bar is 3 points. So you quickly learn to choose filling and nutritious foods rather than jelly beans because you want to make your points count!

Exercise will earn points. For example, 1/2 hour of walking is 1 point.

Step 1: Plan ahead. You think about the situations you'll be in and what food you'll eat to stay under the #of points allowed.

Step 2: Track. You keep a record on paper of what you take in. 

Step 3: Report. There are weekly meetings where you weigh in and receive some motivational instruction.

Step 4: Celebrate. For example, Ken received a gold star for losing his first 5 lb. and we were genuinely proud of him!

Remember

In our FHE tonight out at the Leishmans we took turns telling about times when the Lord has blessed our lives. It seems in every experience prayer was involved. The Leishmans reminded us of Elder Eyring's advice to record these experiences so you'll remember them and so your posterity will be reminded of the Lord's influence in our lives.

So here's my story:

One time when we were living in Bozeman, Montana and Eldon didn't have his doctorate yet, he was told that in order to get promoted or tenured he needed to get his doctorate. So he decided he wanted to go to OSU to get it. I didn't want to go. He was Bishop and had only served for a few months and I thought we should stay there until he was released. 

So we discussed it quite a bit and couldn't agree. I prayed about it a lot too and didn't get an answer. Then finally one day we were hiking and I was praying about it as we were hiking. The voice I heard was not audible and yet it had a disgusted tone to it. It said, "Janeil, he's not indispensable!" 

So we moved and everything worked out fine.

I think I'll tell the story Dad told too. This was a time when Ken and Neil were in their early teens and the Scouts were up at Silver Creek Falls. Dee Smith was the Scoutmaster and Dad was along to help out. 

The boys got to rough housing and Eldon told Ken to knock it off. He got mad and took off running. Dee and Eldon went up and down the trails calling for him. It got dark. Finally Dee took the other boys home. Eldon still looked and looked and drove up and down the highway. 

He finally called me to say our son was lost. I prayed (and I'm sure Eldon had been praying all along) and not 5 minutes later the police station in Silverton called and said they had our son. He had been trying to run home but had run in the wrong direction. They kept him until Eldon could get there for him. 

Both Ken and his Dad were relieved to see each other.

Now it's your turn. Write about a time when the Lord blessed your life and answered a heartfelt prayer.

A day with the Dodge boys

The Dodge boys came for a day. Trevor showed us his videos he's been making. Curtis and Grandpa went to shoot hoops and to see the ducks. I played Chinese checkers with Jason and Grandpa taught him to play backgammon. They watched the Disney movie, "The Paper Brigade." Trevor built some lego things. Jason and Curtis did puzzles. But mostly they wanted to eat.

Battle of the Books

At Berkeley's school there were 40 Battle of the Books teams. They all read 16 books and then there was a tournament to see which team could answers trivial questions about the books. Berkeley's team won! Four guys and one girl.

So last night they competed with nine teams who were best in the region. It was held at Powells Book Store. Three of the authors were there. The questions were really hard. Although on the ones about Fablehaven Maia and Sydney knew the answers. This was a warm up tournament and the official one will be on the 14th. But now they see the competition they'll be up against.

Go Berkeley's team!

Here are the 16 books if Zachary or Rachel or Jason or anybody else wants a list of good books to read:

Alphabet of Dreams by Susan Fletcher, historical fiction

Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz, adventure/mystery

Atherton: House of Power by Patrick Carman, science fiction

Bat 6 by Virginia Wolff, historical fiction

Call Me Hope by Gretchen Olson, realistic

Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury, historical fiction

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull, fantasy

Fire on the Wind by linda Crew, historical fiction about the Tilamook Burn

Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary, biography

Half-Moon Investigations by Eloin Colfer, adverture/mystery

Minerva Clark Gets a Clue by Karen Karbo, mystery/humor

Peak by Roland Smith, adventure

The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Jones, fantasy

Sea Otter REscue: the Aftermath of an Oil Spill by Roland Smith, non-fiction

Stout-hearted Seven by Neta Frazier, historical fiction

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin, fantasy