Wednesday, February 28, 2018

It was back to the early shift this morning and Glade dropped me off at the temple about 6:30 a.m.  I managed to get through the whole shift and felt fortunate to help with a Spanish veil.  I just love doing that!  I also helped out with two sisters receiving their own endowments today.  By the end of the shift, fatigue was setting in and my limit reached.  But it was so great to be back working in the temple.  It is busy, busy, busy and working closer to capacity than we have ever seen it before.  I had agreed to do part of an extra shift Friday morning, but cancelled today.  Being on my feet that long and steady is still to taxing.  But I will do the evening shift as scheduled.

Glade got all ready and returned to the temple a little later.  The Hostess Sister told me mid-morning that she had seen Glade come into the temple; and then about 30 minutes later saw him leave the temple.  So that didn’t go so well!  I found out later that it was dizziness from the inner ear issue that sent him home.  He feels much better tonight and might try again tomorrow—and then maybe not.

I’m hoping for good news tomorrow morning when I see the doctor and have the last physical therapy session.  The boot is like a part of my leg now, but there will be no tears shed to give it “the boot”!  Wish me luck!

Good bye to February and Welcome to March and the hope of spring!!

Love to everyone—Good Night!  😊 

i

We're going to miss our little friends.  Wish I could get a photo of the bushy brown.  It's gorgeous but scampers up the tree with lightning speed!

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Our kind neighbor next door didn’t realize Glade had been sick.  Once he found out, he made a special trip to a popular restaurant not too far from here and brought back some delicious chicken noodle soup for our lunch yesterday—hot and ready to eat.  More kindness at every turn.  What lessons we are learning.  It will be nice to soon be on the giving end!!

Things improve every day and Glade is feeling better—mostly.  He still has a cough that will keep him out of the temple tomorrow, but he is so much better!  This flu he had was nasty and hit him hard.  I’m still following him around spraying Lysol in his wake and Clorox-ing all the surfaces—doorknobs, handles, cupboards, etc. 

We managed to pack our big suitcases today and Glade made it to the store to buy another suitcase so we can fit all of our things in.  We shouldn’t have to check it as an extra bag, however, because we each get two free bags and can put one of our small carry-ons in the overhead bin.  So that’s one more hurdle jumped and one step closer to being ready.  I’m going to the temple tomorrow and will be there for the next four days!  Glade probably won’t try to go until Thursday, depending on his cough, etc. 

The sun is shining, the grass is greening fast, and the grounds keepers are busy spraying, trimming, and digging up plants that will need to be transplanted during the renovation.  It definitely feels like spring.  I wake up every morning to a sweet birdsong right outside the window just before dawn.  And then the train rumbles by and I have come to love its familiar sound and feeling of comfortable familiarity.

Squirrels are on the prowl and this black one and his bushy-tailed brown friend chase food trails right outside our window.  I'm going to miss these sassy little creatures!

Love, good health, success, and happiness are always in our prayers for each of you!  Love you  😊  (Wish I knew how to do a heart or something else here!)      

Monday, February 26, 2018

Physical therapy went great again and I’m ready for the changes coming at Thursday’s appointment—mostly to get rid of this big heavy boot.  The nights will be so much nicer not having to sleep with such bulk, and getting around in general will be so pleasant. 

Glade is slowly recovering and after my appointment we stopped to pick up a couple of storage bins for the back of the car and more Lysol, etc.  When we ship the car, we are allowed 100 pounds of cargo and we needed something to put that 100 pounds into.  We did some packing and planning and way too much moving around for me, and my ankle is hurting tonight—not where the break is but where the boot rubbed and bruised it.  It’s getting harder to remember not to walk on it so much. 

We missed the last big party tonight with all the missionaries in our ward and we were so sad about that.  But one nice couple next door brought us plates from the meal afterward and another couple stopped by with our little gifts.  They are such dear friends. 

We learned today that one of the sister missionaries broke her arm today playing pickleball!  It was a bad break and she has to have surgery in the morning.  It is so sad and must be so painful.  Her service just ended a week early.  I can’t believe how many broken bones have occurred here and how many have happened outside of this service.  Everyone who sees me on crutches has a story to tell about their own broken bones.  It’s almost epidemic! 

Time for sleep.  I woke just before 3:00 a.m. last night and didn’t sleep a wink after that, so I’m ready for some good solid shut-eye tonight.

Love you all!  A week from tonight—if all goes well—we will be sleeping in Utah!  See you soon.  😊    

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Neither of us went to church today.  Glade is doing a little better but is far from well.  It has been rainy and I didn’t want to deal with imposing on others to help on slippery sidewalks and just didn’t feel well enough to deal with it all.  We have had the windows open all afternoon and ran a fan for a while to air out all the “bugs” and hope they are gone—at least for a few hours. 😊  We both need to feel better tomorrow since we need to start some serious packing.  We are down to one week left unless we have to extend to get well!!!  

Wishing you all a happy day and sending you our love.  😊

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Wow, I thought there was a birthday wish for Dustin but it apparently got lost while the rest of the blog was being typed.  I haven’t done it for everyone in the past but recently started recognizing the birthdays and now it is obvious if one gets missed.  So Happy Birthday to Dustin yesterday.  My apologies to anyone whose birthday was missed in the recent past.

Glade is still very miserable and very contagious although there is a little improvement tonight.  I’m still sanitizing everything, but some times it’s hard to keep up with the meandering depositor of germs.  😊 

Alexis’s former roommate Abigail and her husband from North Carolina came to the temple today and called to see if they could stop by.  Of course, I couldn’t have them come with Glade being sick.  She offered to stop by the store for anything we might need, so I gave her a list of paper towels, Clorox Wipes, orange juice, chicken noodle soup, and a loaf of bread.  She threw in a couple of treats and they brought it by.  Before they arrived, Glade put a wedge into the upper door so they could get in, and I met them just outside our lower door.  The bags were left on the doorstep and I escorted them to the laundry room where there is a large chair made for two people and that’s where we visited.  Her husband had to stand while we talked, but he said he didn’t mind.  We had a great time, but I felt bad for not being able to be more hospitable.  Their trip to the temple took about six hours. 

I didn’t go to the temple for my shift tonight, but plan to go as much as possible next week.  I started sorting and organizing more things for the packing process which will have to start on Monday and move very fast!  Most of the day was spent secluded in the bedroom with the windows open so I’m a little stir-crazy tonight! 

Love to you all 😊

Friday, February 23, 2018

Glade was second in line at the “Patient First” facility at 7:45 this morning and, not surprisingly, was diagnosed with the flu.  He bundled with a blanket in the chair with fever and chills and has Tamiflu and an antibiotic to give him a boost.  The antibiotic is for his bad sinuses and ears that are a chronic problem for him.  The terrible cough he always gets is better this afternoon.  But he is apparently contagious for five to seven days. :( 

We are running out of paper towels and Clorox wipes, and we have changed up our responsibilities.  I’m back on kitchen duty and don’t want him to touch anything.  I did get a flu shot, but apparently that’s not going to be much help in warding this off.  Oh, well—“Come what may and love it” or at least be patient and know that it can’t last forever. 

Rain is in the forecast off and on for the next ten days and snowstorms have dotted the country.  At this point we are so happy to have plane tickets for going home.

Glade drove me to the temple for the shift tonight and I was able to find a ride home so he didn’t have to go out again.  It felt so great to get out of the apartment, to be in the temple, and to talk to people.  I was given fairly easy assignments and wasn’t nearly as tired at the end of the shift as I was last Friday.  Things, outside of having constant exposure to the flu, are looking up.

Have a wonderful week-end!  Look for a blessing in every single day and you will find at least one!  Lots of love and plenty of hugs to you all.  Good Night!  😊   

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Early morning physical therapy went great and I managed a whole mile on the bicycle.  Glade isn’t faring so well, however, and is pretty sick.  He was too tired to fight traffic this afternoon to go see a doctor, but plans to visit the Patient First facility first thing in the morning.  If it’s the flu, which it probably is, there may not be much to do but wait it out.  This apartment is so small that I can’t isolate myself from exposure and poor Glade has been coughing hard all day.  Do you think I’m doomed?    

I can’t think of anything even remotely interesting to post, so I’ll just say good night and ask for prayers for good health.  Thanks a million.

Love to Everyone!    😊

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

What a day.  I survived the whole shift this morning and served as veil director among other things and managed the crutches pretty well.  It felt wonderful to be back in the temple and helping out.  Tomorrow, however, may not see us in the temple since Glade came home feeling ill—achy, sinus headache, cough, etc., etc.  We have tried so hard to stay healthy, but our exposure to “bugs” is constant in the temple.  We hope it is short-lived and that he isn’t down for a week or two.  And I’m using Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer and making him cough in a shirt!  I’ll probably get it anyway.  Oh, well.

A district temple worker came by tonight and cut and colored my hair.  It was so nice to get it done, but it took her over two hours.  My foot screamed to be up off the floor by nightfall and Glade and I are both done in!  But life is good and we have been so greatly blessed. 

Good Night, Everyone.  Love you!  😊 

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Great expectations are laid upon the senior missionaries serving here.  The last two days have been very taxing and it is only Tuesday.  There is little time to rest or take care of other things on weeks that have a holiday like President’s Day when the temple is open.  Glade is tired but has done great work and will persevere. 

My computer quit working last night and when it wouldn’t boot up this morning (do computers still “boot up”), I made an appointment for a check-up at Best Buy for this afternoon.  Glade dropped me off for my physical therapy appointment and then talked to the expert geek about the computer issue.  Apparently, it was not recovering from the “sleep mode” so he disabled it.  It was fixed on the spot and is working great now.  I’m so glad I didn’t have to leave it at Best Buy again!

Physical therapy went fine and I’m supposed to put more weight on my foot now.  It will get a good test since I’m going to the temple tomorrow to do another shift.  Keep your fingers crossed for me that I don’t trip anyone (including myself) with the crutches and that I can make it through!

It was 78 degrees here today!  Wow, what a turn around from a couple of days ago.  That temperature broke the record that was set in about 1930.  It might hit 80 in the next day or two!  Wow.  And then, of course, it will cool down.

Take care, Everyone!  Love you all so much.  

Choose to be happy and keep striving!  😊

Monday, February 19, 2018

Glade left for the temple this morning at 5:45 and didn’t get home until 2:30 p.m. The temple was overflowing with patrons and they did 800 endowments by just after noon. These holiday openings always bring crowds of people and this one was especially busy because of the closing that will happen in less than two weeks. I’m not going tomorrow but have assignments for Wednesday. Hope the physical therapy session tomorrow works wonders for me!

We contacted David and Andrea Cook about getting together for lunch and they invited us to their house today. They live less than ten minutes from us and we are so happy to have run into them while we were here. They cooked us a nice meal with Italian flare that David learned on his mission in Italy, and it tasted great. They have a darling little girl named Ada who is fourteen months old. She has dark hair and blue eyes and looks like Andrea. David is still involved in research and is involved in trials that give malaria, through mosquito bites, to participants and then give them the drugs designed to cure the disease. Andrea teaches organic chemistry at Trinity Washington University—one class and one lab per week. There are ten women in her class and it is an all-women campus. They have a nice little house here in Kensington and rent out the basement to another couple and their baby.

Here is a photo of this cute little family.

Good Night. Sending lots of love and warm hugs your way. 😊

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMILY ELLEN!

Sunday, February 18, 2018

By noon today the sun was shining and the roads were wet but bare of snow.  I decided to venture to church and was rewarded with great talks, lessons, and the sociality of our great friends.  It wasn’t as hard, of course, as being in the temple; so, recuperation should be quick.  The hardest part of being in the temple is the back ache that comes from the uneven height of the boot and the shoe.  Not sure how to fix that.

Two weeks from today our Rock Creek Ward will be dissolved and we will be all finished here!  Wow!  What a fast adventure this has been.  We are so glad we decided to do this.  We would have missed out on so many blessings, learning opportunities, and wonderful associations with incredible people.  I remember a quote that says something to the effect that we should never pass up an opportunity to be edified.  And we have been edified and blessed.

Here is yesterday’s picture of the snow that I forgot to add to the post. 

Love you all and hope you are ready for a great week ahead!   😊

Happy Birthday, Isaac!       

Saturday, February 17, 2018

It took me all morning to recuperate from yesterday’s time in the temple and needless to say, I did not go today.  It was an incredibly busy day in the temple and I probably would have just been in the way, but I missed being a part of the hustle and bustle of this great work.  The number of endowments today was nearly 1,500 with 36 receiving their own. 

It snowed for a couple of hours this afternoon—big beautiful flakes that added up to about a couple of inches.  It was snowing again later when Glade came back from the temple and added another inch that was sticking to the roads.  I played the keyboard for a while, which faces outside our big windows, and watched it blanket the trees and the lawn and it was gorgeous.  It is a good thing I went to the temple yesterday when it was warm and dry.

One of my good friends came over tonight and we had a great visit and played a card game.  She was so sweet to come over and help fill my time.  She is a single sister and will be returning to Utah in a couple of weeks on the same flight as ours.

Have a great Sunday.  Hope you fill your spiritual tanks and gear up for another week!  Love to you all!  😊

Friday, February 16, 2018

My goal was to go back to the temple today.  Friday is our shortest shift and a good place to start except that the end of the day is the hardest time for me.  But I met my goal.  I sped up my system of getting ready and we arrived in plenty of time.  My assignments were light and I spent an hour and a half or so in the laundry and made it to the end of the shift.  It just about did me in, however.  Tonight my leg aches, and my body is tired from compensating uneven shoe heights.  No complaints, though.  I was so happy to be back and see such a busy night happening.  I think the total endowments for the day numbered 777 and the baptistry was packed.  Wonderful!

Good night, Everyone.  Love to you all and have a great week-end. 😊

Thursday, February 15, 2018

We had an appointment with Pres. and Sister Colton this morning which was our “leaving” interview.  It felt good to be in the temple, and had it been a short day rather than our longest assignment, I would have stayed to check out just what I might be able to help with.  Glade brought me home and then returned for the shift. 

My dear friend Michelle, from Gilbert, AZ, came by again this afternoon for a visit.  She and her husband arrived here shortly after we did.  We have so much in common and formed an instant bond.  She said if we lived in the same neighborhood, we would be best friends.  I love it that we have such a strong connection, like we have always known each other.  It will be a sad parting and we have promised to keep in touch.  She is tall and thin and funny, rather opposite of me!  But the differences don’t seem to matter. 

The foot and ankle are a little sore and swollen tonight, due to lots of use today and bearing more weight.  I guess that’s good. It had better start feeling great since it will soon be time to start sorting and preparing to leave.  It still seems like we just arrived! 

Well, we have made our travel plans and they are far different than anticipated. After struggling for a few days trying to figure out the best way to get home with this less-than-able leg of mine, Glade decided that both of us will fly and have the car shipped.  That was a pretty tough call for him to leave his car in someone else’s hands, but he did it!  I’m a happy camper tonight knowing that neither of us will have to make that long, long drive nor worry so much about the threat of bad weather.  And—we’re flying first-class!  😊

Keep working on your goals!  Like Elder Holland has said: “Don’t you quit.  You keep walking, you keep trying . . .”  Love you all!  Good Night!  😊 

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

My sweet husband is so awesome!  This morning at 5:00 a.m. he slipped out to the store to get a Valentine surprise.  When I got up at 6:30, I was greeted by these beautiful red roses and giant lilies that will keep blooming until we leave.  This cute little bear also holds live roses, and he said he just couldn’t pass it up.  Fresh raspberries, a frozen Marie Calendar lemon pie, and a beautiful card made the gift complete.  He’s my sweetheart!  And I love him.

The Dr. appointment and therapy went great and the x-rays indicate the bone is healing very well.  I am walking with weight on the foot now and it is feeling pretty good.  I’ll still have to walk with two crutches until we leave, but at least I’ll be walking.  We took the cane we bought Monday and had the therapist adjust it to the right height.  I may not be using it much until we get home, but at least it will be ready to go!  I get the feeling this Dr. Siekanowicz takes things slowly and surely and may be on the conservative side, but for me that is the best.  There is no way I want to go through injuring it or re-breaking it and having to start again.  I’m still sleeping with this brick of a boot and can’t wait to “lose it”—two more weeks! 

While we were visiting with the Dr., he noticed my missionary tag and asked about it. I told him we were missionaries working in the Mormon temple.  Of course, everyone around here is familiar with this landmark building.  He said he remembers when he was a young boy, the Mormon missionaries came to his home, and his mom invited them in.  They were at his house a lot and even went to church with the missionaries.  He and his family are Catholic and the good Elders reciprocated and went to a Catholic service with his family.  He said that they were so nice and such kind people and that it was a very positive experience for him and his family.  He never forgot them.  They are still Catholic, but positive seeds have been planted and he was gracious and complimentary to us.  Chance encounter?  Maybe, maybe not.

Our shift coordinator gave each of the assistants a beautiful handmade gift today after the shift and one of the sisters brought mine over this evening.  Sister Brown and her husband worked together to make these beautiful keepsake boxes using natural, unstained wood.  It was a wonderfully thoughtful gift and memento of our experiences here.  It has this picture of the temple set into the top.

 

The sister who brought this gift tonight also brought two chocolate dipped strawberries on skewers to share with us, so we had a sweet bite added to our day.

Glade took advantage of the rainless afternoons and walked  yesterday and today.  Yesterday he encountered a deer on the sidewalk and tonight he saw two more of these beautiful creatures up by the temple.  No camera, tho'.

Happy Valentines Day!  Hope you all hugged the ones you love and told them how much they mean to you.   Love to all of you.  😊

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

My leg is sore and I hope it is just from the physical therapy.  Tomorrow there is another Dr. appointment, more physical therapy, and maybe the good news I was hoping for last week that I can be weight-bearing with the crutches.  It had better happen soon since time is quickly running out!

Sister Martinez and Joselyn texted today and said they wanted to bring us dinner again tonight.  That is the third time!  They are just so sweet and we had a nice visit.  My list of thank you notes for the second round is growing every day! 

A sweet sister stopped by tonight to visit and brought fancy cupcakes from the neighborhood bakery.  Her husband fell a couple of weeks ago when he slipped on a slick rug in the bathroom and has a concussion and cracked bones in his neck.  He is recovering and was at church Sunday with a neck brace.  The missionaries here are known for their health issues and accidents, and their kindness and generosity!

Good Night!  Love and miss you all!  😊   

Monday, February 12, 2018

Glade took me to physical therapy today and patiently read in the waiting room while I was put through an hour of exercises and electrical (or is it electronic?) stimulation.  I even rode a stationery bike for a half mile and he said I should post it to the Fat Blog!  The next stop was at a CVS Pharmacy where we purchased a cane.  It’s not my favorite, but there weren’t many options.  I had to do without the wheelchair which was probably good for me; but my arms, hands, and one good leg are showing wear and tear tonight.  The senior missionary from Jeff’s ward in Salem makes hand-carved canes and offered me one as we were getting home this afternoon.  It was so nice of him! 

Take care of your bodies; be healthy; and be fit so that when physical challenges come, you have a base of good health to sustain you and help you heal and recover.  We never know when it might be our turn for a physical challenge.

Love to everyone.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN.  😊   

Sunday, February 11, 2018

A sweet friend (a single sister missionary) who has had her own set of physical problems recently, came over this morning and brought us breakfast.  It was all from Costco and she actually shared with a few others as well.  She also brought me a new book to read and stayed for a short visit.  She lost her husband to cancer about a year ago, and her she is on her own, serving another mission.  She has spikey grey hair and such a cute personality.  She is the sister who gets up at 4:00 a.m. to do her exercise walk outside near the apartments!

Our home teachers came about 11:00 a.m.  One brother, who was born in China, uses some of his extra time since retirement to do baking and came bearing large fresh cinnamon rolls.  It will be their last visit and who knows when we might ever have home teachers again!  It was a great visit and we have loved having them come.

Heavy rain poured down all night long but let up by the time we needed to go to church.  We could hear the rain water rushing down the canal that runs west of our apartments.  Because it was wet, I used the wheelchair again since crutches aren’t always reliable on wet ground.  The boot bothers and irritates my leg and by the time our hour-and-a-half Sacrament Meeting was finished, I was finished, too; and Glade brought me home.

Glade left to do his home teaching at 7:00 and my visiting teachers came by while he was gone.  One sister is very chatty and they were still here when Glade got back, so he joined us for another twenty minutes.  😊  It was the lady who lent me the wheelchair.  Since her prosthesis was recently damaged and she is using a temporary one, she borrowed the wheelchair back for an excursion tomorrow.  This will be a test to see how I do with only crutches.  They brought a Valentine treat. 

Good Night All.  Hope your Sunday was wonderful and that you have a great week!  Love and Hugs!  😊

Saturday, February 10, 2018

It rained cats and dogs outside today! The forecast was for rain today and heavy rain tomorrow.  It was good we didn’t have plans for outside activities, but even venturing to and from a car was a drenching experience. 

The physical therapy exercises have already made measured improvement in my foot and ankle.  The swelling is going down and the mobility is good.  That was a needed bright spot in the day because it’s getting harder and harder to endure the limitations of activity and the confinement of these four walls with a happy heart.  But I’m being good so the healing will be complete!  I have to admit though, I’m getting anxious to put this behind me and “move” forward.  Lots of self-talk going on.  😊

Temple attendance is up meaning people are realizing that the closure is right around the corner.  Temple workers' time is better spent when the sessions are full and the laundry is piled high! 

A missionary couple stopped by to visit tonight while Glade was in the temple and they brought beautiful red Gerber daisies.  It was so kind of them to help me fill my evening. 

Sweet Dreams!  Happy Birthday to Louisa.  😊  

Friday, February 9, 2018

My first experience with physical therapy went well this morning.  It consisted of exercises to strengthen the ankle and increase range of motion.  It also included a 15-minute treatment of electronic stimulation with little electric shocks that felt like intense tingling.  There is still swelling in the foot, not near the break but the toe area; and the activities should also help reduce that.  I have to keep my foot elevated still, and do the exercises about every two or three hours during the day.  It is a blessing to not have a lot of pain.  There is another appointment for therapy on Monday.

So, I am still rather laid-up and am trying to keep cheerful.  The bone that broke is the fibula and is not the weight-bearing bone, so that is a great positive element.  The tibia is the large bone that takes the weight.  Next week should see more weight-bearing in the walking, using a stationary bike during therapy, and transferring sometime in the next two weeks to a cane.

A woman stopped me on the way out of the Dr.’s office and asked about what happened to my leg.  She was in a wheel chair with a hard cast on one of her legs and said she had fallen two days ago on the ice and had broken both bones in her ankle and would have to have surgery in two weeks.  I gave her all the consolation I could and then counted my blessings again.  😊

There are plenty of things for me to do while “resting” and I’m happy for the keyboard to play, lots of books to read, a little cross-stitch handwork, coloring pages, and a little chocolate!  So, all is well.  Have a great week-end!  Love you all 😊

Thursday, February 8, 2018

The Dr. appointment this morning was a little disappointing but actually about what I expected.  The bone is healing, but it is not time to give up the crutches.  Only a toe-touch of weight with a bent knee is allowed for now.  Tomorrow I have my first appointment with a physical therapist for exercises to strengthen and stretch the foot and leg.  There will be one more therapy session before next week’s Dr. appointment on Wednesday morning.  By the week after that, I hope to graduate to a full weight-bearing walk with the crutches and maybe the cane. 

Anyway, it still feels like a long haul.  I’ll get an air-cast for the foot and ankle just before we start home.  I don’t think that’s going to be very fun for a 36-hour drive 😊  There is no way I can help with any of the driving.  But I’m still smiling, appreciating the silver lining, and looking for all that I need to learn from this experience.

Glade had the long day in the temple today and now can look forward to a restful and less stressful Friday.  He is doing dishes now and snacking, trying to eat down the food in the cupboards so we don’t have left-overs. 

Another week-end is here already—seems like it was just Sunday and now another one is nearly upon us.  Enjoy!  Love you All 😊

Wednesday, February, 7, 2018

It has been three weeks since the fall that broke my ankle and my patience has been tried for sure.  I’m attempting to fill my time with worthwhile things but am certainly missing being able to move!  The bruised tailbone is feeling much better which helps everything because I can move easier.  I’ve tried to be up on the crutches a lot more the last two days in anticipation of good news from the Dr. in the morning that I can start putting weight on the healing foot!

While Glade was serving at the Recommend Desk in the temple this morning, he met a senior missionary serving in the area—not in the temple—whose last name was Parker and he was from Rexburg.  The recorder in the DC Temple is a Brother Parker so Glade asked if they were related.  He said no and that he was an Idaho Parker.  He said that in the early days of the Church, his ancestors, named Parker, were asked by Brigham Young to travel to Idaho and farm.  That little community of Parker, Idaho, was the result, which is about 15 miles from Plano.  During their brief conversation, Glade learned that the farm acreage in Parker that Grandpa Peterson purchased to augment his farm, was in turn purchased by this man’s father.  It was a fun connection although their conversation time was brief.  What a small world. 

Rain pelted the ground again today, and freezing rain and ice forced the closures of several school in the surrounding counties including Montgomery County where we live.  We are beginning to look ahead to the weather forecasts for the second week in March when we will be traveling and hoping for better weather.  It could still be very wintery in some areas and we are making plans to head on a southerly route.

Sweet Dreams!  Sending your daily dose of hugs and praying for your success and happiness!  😊

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

   

Glade returned to the temple today and said it was busier for a Tuesday morning than it usually is.  Attendance, or rather the number of ordinances, has increased significantly; but it is still nowhere close to capacity.  But he said it was a great day.  There was ice that had to be scraped from the windshield of the car and some schools had a two-hour delay because of icy road conditions.  Worse conditions are forecast for tomorrow morning with rain, snow, and ice.  It will be good for me to be at home—at least I can’t fall on the ice if I am here in the apartment.  😊 

One of my good friends came by this afternoon bringing a loaf of Great Harvest Bread and fresh chocolate chip cookies.  Yum, they were so good!  She is such a sweet friend and we have a lot in common.  I will really miss her when we leave.  She and her husband are from Gilbert, AZ.

Playing the keyboard was so fun this morning!!!  I made sure the neighbors were on shift and played quietly, and it felt really good.  There is no pedal to plug in, but I have plenty of Mozart, Bach and other baroque music that doesn’t need pedal and it was awesome!

Love you all.  Be happy!  Good Night!  😊

Monday, February 5, 2018    

Wow, my stamina has been reduced to a tiny little bit.  I was still exhausted this morning from yesterday’s outings, even after a good night’s sleep; and my leg felt battered.  The boot has to be partly to blame.  It is heavy and the rigid sides rub right along the fracture so keeping it still and immobile is going to remain a must for a while longer.  It was still a blessing to get out of the house!

This afternoon one of the missionaries brought over an electronic keyboard that his wife has been using to practice music for the Spanish Ward Primary.  Since there are only three Sundays left in that ward, she doesn’t need it and offered to share it.  It belongs to the apartments and is for everyone to use.  What a blessing to add some variety to my day and keep my fingers limber.  Music is healing and expresses what is in the heart.  We set it up between the recliners right in front of the window.  All that is needed is a pair of earphones, but there is no place to insert such a thing on this particular keyboard.  But I can play quietly!

Glade is still doing the laundry (although I do the folding) and keeping up with kitchen duty.  He has been a real trouper in helping out and has been very patient.  I really appreciate his attentiveness and helpfulness.  It has been too cold to walk outside so we are grateful he can go to the “The Sweat Shop” and get some exercise.  It  literally keeps him going and he would go quite crazy without it. 

One of our good friends stopped by about dinner time bearing a plate of honey-butter topped corn muffins.  Delicious.

The Relief Society President stopped by tonight, too, to see how things are going and to bring papers from Sunday that I missed out on.  She had made several compassionate service visits already and does such a great job in her calling.

Saw this and thought it was awesome so I’m sharing.

Good night!  Sending your daily hugs -- 😊