Temple trip

This was a great week!  We had all the Christmas decorations up by Monday afternoon. And then I worked on baking. We’d invited the Empty Nesters over for Family Home Evening (FHE) at our house that evening. I tried a new recipe of pizza swirls—kind of mini pizzas in a spiral shape. They looked attractive and were tasty and easy. (So I made them for Tom’s Bishop Youth Discussion (BYD) today-Sunday). I also made cream cheese ranch rollups with tortillas. Tom made fudge and wassail… then forgot to take out the fudge. Was it an accident?

We had a small group for FHE, but had a good time. We talked about the gifts we would give the Savior this year.

Tuesday morning I had my AWAI Mastermind group call. Most of the people in the group are still struggling to get their first job and I wonder if it’s worth continuing. But I always get something out of the meeting. In the afternoon I had a chiropractic appointment and then went and did a little shopping.

I finished my disposable pH reader website and wrote up notes on a possible technology of mine on an improved battery. I don’t know that it’s enough of a breakthrough technology to move forward with. In so many areas progress seems to be made daily. What’s new today may be outdated by next week.

Thursday Tom and I drove to the temple in St. Louis. It seemed an especially lovely time. Both Tom and I spent some time napping in the car so we were refreshed when we arrived. We did an evening session on Thursday and then went to Trader Joe’s and Five Guys for dinner. Friday we did two more sessions. We were the witness couple all three times which perhaps made it more meaningful. And we took family names and there’s a special spirit to getting our own ancestors’ work done.

On the drive home we stopped a Panera Bread Co. for a late lunch and Aldi’s for groceries. We got back home about 7pm—enough time to catch up on emails.

Saturday was balmy. Actually we’ve had great warm weather. Tom had spent much of the week at one of Rebecca’s houses where the tenant moved out. Tom said it looked like the dog had taken up cribbing on the window sills. (Cribbing is when horses nibble on stall doors and fences.) In the afternoon Tom finished weeding the garden. So it’s mostly put to bed for the winter.

The primary was having a “primary store.” People donated gently used goods for kids to “buy” as gifts for their parents and siblings. Deborah drove over so her kids could partake. Then she stayed for lunch and some grandma-grandkid games. Little Hailey is growing and looking adorable. Of course all her kids are cute.

Today was a sweet day at church. I love to start the morning with choir practice. Then we had a good sacrament meeting. I went to family history and think perhaps I’ve finally found a link to with someone on the Donop side and work that may have been done. Tom had BYD after church. It’s rainy and gloomy outside and we are delighted to feel snug and warm inside with twinkly Christmas lights.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

It’s been a Merry Christmas Week. I love the chance to turn to Christmas Holiday festivities. I have to admit, Tom has been the diligent one this year. He took charge of almost all the gift buying for our family. He shopped, he wrapped, he boxed up and mailed out. I am so blessed to have his help and support.

I finally got out and went shopping this week. Now I remember why I don’t do it so often. It’s expensive!  But it was also fun. And then I got a chance to wrap and take delight in imagining the joy of someone on Christmas morning.

I have been finishing up some work projects, but not seeing any big projects come in. I finished a website and have another to start. I finished an article for my executive coach and he’s about to go into a different direction. So I don’t know what’s next. I sat in on my first conference call with a technology from UCD. It sounded promising to me, but it looks like it might be a tough market to break into.

Still, good news. I will start doing publicity for some of the technologies that are further down the pipeline. Their Plasma technology that allows big trucks to get 20% better gas mileage was featured in Popular Mechanics. That brought them a lot of attention and they’ve recognized the power of publicity. So I’m excited to be a part of that move forward.

Tom and I decided we needed to do a better job of going out. So Friday we went out to breakfast. Then we went to see the Midway duplex and its new carpet. And we stopped to look at new fireplace inserts. They are a bit pricy. Maybe next year. Tom spent the afternoon beating leaves into submission and then drove the truck for the church float in the town Christmas Parade.

Saturday we put up Christmas decorations. The house looks festive. We got the tree up and lights and garlands on. I need to do the ornaments on Monday as in the evening we are having the senior Family Home Evening at our house.

Sunday we had good meetings. Tom is busy with tithing settlements Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday after church, but he enjoys meeting with individuals and families and visiting with them.  I stopped by Mollie's to wish her a happy 99th birthday. Tonight we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. You’ll be able to find it on lds.org. It was very festive!

Happy Thanksgiving

The weather is finally telling us winter is coming. But we’ve enjoyed the extended fall. Tom has tons of leaves to clean up from the lawn… and still the trees have some leaves. But this weekend it has been rainy and cold.

The week started out nicely. Monday I worked on some websites. I’m learning about airline maintenance and a new technology that can take all the information that goes into the “black box” and use it to predict when something is starting to go wrong. Then it can be fixed before it actually goes wrong. I also have a gun sight invention that I’m trying to figure out how it really works.

Sometimes these websites seem to be a moving target. I get things written and then the owners come back and say, no, that’s really not how it works. Or, that’s not what we’re going to focus on. It makes me crabby, but I’m realizing this is a moving target. The companies are so new, they are just coming to understand the technology themselves. They want the website up early so they can have something to show investors. And that means sometimes new information comes along that changes things.

Tuesday I went to glaze some pottery with my friend Marian. We always have a lovely time chatting as we work. Whenever I go I always want to do more with pottery. Then I come back home and other things seem more important. But I enjoy working with clay.

Tom has been doing tithing settlement this week and will continue through the end of the year. He enjoys visiting with families whether or not they are full tithe payers. It’s just their chance to report to the Lord’s representative.

Wednesday we prepared for Thanksgiving and for Deborah and children’s arrival. I made pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie. When Deborah arrived, she made a chocolate pie. I cooked up some yams from our garden and they were sweet and tasty. Tom made green jello with cottage cheese and pineapple. Thursday we added turkey, stuffing, and gravy. We were about to sit down to eat and I realized I had not made mashed potatoes. Actually, nobody seemed to miss them.

Ian drove up early Thursday to join us and we invited our neighbor Barb over for Thanksgiving dinner. The kids seemed to have a good time. They had forecast bad rain and storms, but it didn’t happen Wednesday… or Thursday… or Friday. Finally Friday night we got a little rain and drizzles through to Sunday. But no storms and perhaps a total of under 2 inches.

On Friday we watched a Percy Jackson Movie. Sarah had been reading the book— Sea of Monsters, I think. Ian braved the crowds and went shopping for us on Friday. He left that afternoon to get home in time for work on Saturday. Deborah went out in the evening for some Black Friday shopping. She took baby Hailey and all the other were in bed. An easy babysitting job for us.

Saturday we visited and played games with the kids. Then Deborah packed up and headed out. She stripped beds and started laundry so it was pretty simple to get things back to order after they were gone. We thought we might have the mission president and his wife spend the night, but they did not. It was nice to relax. We watched “Silent Night” the movie about how the song came to be. It was a good introduction to Christmas.

Sunday we had two new converts and a missionary speak in sacrament. I worked on some family history the second hour. Then the mission president and his wife spoke to all of us for the third hours. It makes us really want to be better missionaries.

Fun with Grandkids

We continued to have fun with Camden and Ethan this week. I left Monday morning and drove to Jonathan and Kristy’s house. We got to see their new little piglets. So cute and tiny. But boy they squeal when you pick them up!  The moms seemed pretty laid back about our being around their babies.

The boys had a great time there. Isabelle took them around on the four-wheeler. They shrieked and ran about the house like banshees with Zachary. And Kristy and I had a fun time talking. I left Tuesday morning about 9am. I wanted to get Camden back to at least some school on Tuesday.

It poured rain- sheets of rain—on the whole drive except for the last 10 minutes. That was nice. We were able to drop Camden off at school in just a drizzle. He seemed happy to go to school.

Ethan and I hung out most of the rest of that day. On Wednesday after Camden left for school we went out shopping. I’ve been looking for Red Vines candy (like red licorice) and can’t seem to find it!  I went to Walmart and Target, both of which said they had it online… but they didn’t in the stores. We went to Sprouts and stocked up on chocolate covered cherries and almonds and other healthy stuff.

In the afternoon the missionaries knocked on the door. They wanted to do service, so they raked the front lawn. Camden and Ethan enjoyed playing in the leaves and then riding their bikes up and down the sidewalk in front of the house. I went out and helped rake and bag.

Sister Burt is from El Centro. I told her the best Carne Asada I ever ate was in El Centro and I’d looked for years for a recipe that tasted like that. She said, “Oh, you just need carne asada seasoning. I have a big jar. I’ll bring you some.”  Oh Joy!  I’m so excited. She said, usually you marinate flank steak with lemon and the spices, but I just sprinkle it on my hamburger. I need to try it and see if it matches my memories.

Miranda and Dan arrived home about midnight on Wednesday. The boys were up early on Thursday, just delighted to see them. Miranda shares some of her loot and some of her pictures. Then she left about 10 to go and pick up Alex and I left to head home. I stopped at Deborah’s for lunch and a visit. Then I stayed to listen to a 2-3:30 webinar with Clayton Makepeace. I needed the computer to do that. When I got home, Tom was off doing tithing settlement.

Friday I sort of puttered and played catch up. I should have been more productive. Saturday night was a freeze and any remaining tomatoes are not toast. I helped Tom move a rick or two of firewood from under the barn overhand to under the side overhang. It was the last of the wood from the 2009 ice storm. With most of the leaves gone from the pear tree, I saw there were still some green pears hanging. I meant to get them, but they were out of reach. Now, they are frozen, too.

Saturday and Sunday were stake conference. Saturday morning I went shopping to get food to make lunches for the visiting guests to the conference- mission president and wife, Temple presidency member and wife and visiting 70. I wanted to find cute little cloth bags to put the lunches in. The only ones I could find that were a perfect size were pink with princesses on them. Somehow, I couldn’t envision a general authority with a pink princess bag. I chose ones slightly larger and a little more subdued.

Saturday afternoon we drove to West Plains. Tom had meetings from 2pm on. I had a stake relief society presidency meeting from 4-6. The Mountain Grove ward prepared a delicious taco salad dinner for the leadership and served it between 6 and the 7 pm evening session of conference.

The talks were great both Saturday Evening and Sunday morning. We learned about keeping the Sabbath day holy and making it a delight (Isaiah 58:13). About how our reverence of the Sabbath is a sign between us and the Lord (exodus 31:13).  It’s our way of showing that we know the Lord sanctifies us and we appreciate it.

We were blessed that the Sunday session of conference was again held in Mountain Home at Dunbar auditorium. I feel like I’m getting to know some of the other people in the stake and it’s nice to gather together.

Camden and Ethan week

This week we spent at Miranda’s house caring for Camden and Ethan. It really worked out better than I’d expected. For the most part the boys played well together. When Camden was in school, Ethan was pretty good at being self-entertaining.

We tried to keep them in a routine. It was interesting to go back and have to decide each “yes” or “no” very carefully. Because we were stuck with that decision once we made it—whether it was yes, you can have a snack, or no, you can’t climb on the walls with nails poking out, or if you swing that toy and hit your brother again, the toy is going away. And be willing to accept the drama that accompanies each choice.

We really didn’t even have a lot of drama. Yes the kids didn’t always like our decisions. But we essentially said, “Too bad. This is how it goes.” And gave them space to wind back down. And then tried to do something different to distract.

We were overjoyed that Ethan potty-trained himself while we were there. There was lots of leftover Halloween candy and he got a treat each time he went. Goodness!  Every 15 minutes!!! That boy produced. So on Wednesday we said, “It’s sticker time. Every time you go you get a sticker and tonight we’ll go out for ice cream at Andy’s.”  While the stickers were met with less than delight, the thought of ice cream soothed the transition. Then on Thursday, we said, “You’re wonderful!  You’re great! No more treats.”  And the bathroom trips dropped down to maybe 4 a day!  He even transitioned from the potty seat to the real toilet to standing up to pee. Maybe more than you want to know about potty training. But I always felt like such a failure as a mom getting my kids trained, it was a delight to step into a totally ready to be potty-trained kid. I can take the credit without any of the work! 

Some afternoons we went on walk/bike rides around the neighborhood. And I got a fair amount of work done. Tom also kept busy. The kids helped him strip wall paper off the hall and he texturized it so it’s ready for painting… mostly. He also did some work in the bathrooms, planted bushes, and fixed the sagging fence. This was most interesting--- involving climbing over the 6’ fence to screw from the other side, without the big, barking dog bothering him. He also spent time on the garage door installing a high-tech coded door entry lock. Alas, it was so high tech, we couldn’t figure out how to make it work. Took it back to Home Depot and they spent 1.5 hours trying to figure it out. Eventually they concluded the outside gizmo is supposed to spin freely unless the proper code is given or the key is inserted, then pressed even further in and turned. Who knew?

Friday we skipped school and drove back to Mountain Home. We had a lovely lunch break at Deborah’s. It was a chance for Camden and Ethan to play with Christopher and Simon. I think Christopher and Simon are used to a gentler kind of play. They may have been happy when we left. I enjoyed baby Hailey.

 We got back to Mountain Home in time to go to the Ward Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a nice affair and the boys were remarkably well behaved. We rewarded them by allowing them to run like banshees up and down the cultural hall after they cleared away the tables. Following Miranda’s recommendations, we got them into PJ’s before heading home. I think it did make it easier for them to drop off to sleep.

 Saturday we dinked around the house. They boys delighted in playing outside. They loved the cats. We’d sit them on the chair and put Athena in their lap. They’d just pet the cat for like 20 minutes. She’s such a great purrer, and petting cats is very therapeutic. Camden would swing the zip line to Ethan then climb up the tree house and zip down. They’re pretty coordinated kids. They helped us prune some bushes in the front, too.

Can you find the two hidden boys?

Today at church I went to choir practice late. They boys played in the back of the room until Tom got them. Then a family offered to sit with us so I could go up and sing. I planned the bribes… er, snacks… just right so the boys were happily munching while I was singing. They went to nursery and Primary and I felt the joy mothers feel to be free for 100 minutes.

Tom had Bishop’s Youth Discussion here after church. The boys and I hung out upstairs and they were happy playing with beads, pipe cleaners, crayons, and cars. Tomorrow we will go and visit Jonathan and Kristy and then head back to Broken Arrow. Tom will hold down the fort here and take the cat in to be neutered on Wednesday.

Visitors

We’ve had a good week. On Monday I worked on writing. Tom worked on getting the chicken run ready for chickens and inaccessible to hawks or carnivores. He ran a 6 foot fence around the exterior. He was tired of trying to mow while bent over under the 4 foot netting. Plus, the netting deteriorated so then there was no net… and therefore no way to keep chickens in.

So he got the taller fencing and placed three wooden posts into the ground in the middle. Then he strung wires between the posts and the fencing.

Creekside had the dismal net fencing that got the city angry at them. When they replaced the 6 foot nylon mesh fence with chain link, we got to keep the nylon mesh fencing. It was ideal to put over the chicken run. We had to stitch four runs of the 6 foot fence together for about 50 feet. Talk about laborious!

Monday evening was Empty Nesters Family Home Evening. It’s always enjoyable to visit with others from church and eat good stuff. We always learn more about each other. This time we shared blessings from this year and told about a scary or inspirational experience we had.

Steve and Kathy came to visit on Monday after we got back home. We were so delighted to see them! They are restful company… except for playing Pickle Ball. Tom had tithing settlement on Tuesday evening, so we went into church and set up the Pickle Ball court. Initially my paddle had a really hard time finding the ball. But as time progressed we got ball engagement. Directional control… that is yet to come.

Wednesday morning we got Tom to come back and the 4 of us played for about an hour. It’s good exercise but you’re having so much fun you don’t realize it. Well, until you stop and then you start to feel the muscles complaining.

My neighbor who is doing the necklaces was planning to drive to some craft shows. But her car is so awful, I was really worried. Bad brakes, bald tires, leaking radiator…  Then Tom heard about a ward member willing to give a car away. What a blessing to her!  She was SO grateful. I was too. And the people giving it away got the oil changed, put on a new steering wheel cover and a few other things done before they turned it over to her. It makes you realize the good in people.

I wanted Steve and Kathy to take some of our sweet potatoes home with them. So Steve and I went out and dug potatoes. We found some monster ones… as well as some that had been gnawed on while underground. We still have many more to dig and a great need for sweet potato recipes. But we had ham and sweet potatoes and broccoli for dinner and the baked potatoes were very good. The ones I foil wrapped were better than the one I microwaved unwrapped.

I planned on digging some more on Thursday after Steve and Kathy left… but it was raining when we awoke. It never really quit. 2.9 inches later—by Friday morning, the rain stopped. Unfortunately, it was time for use to head out.

I had been promoting a goals program in our stake for over a year. George Dyer, a performer in Branson and a church member had very generously agreed to let anyone who had completed the goal program come to his show for free. Friends and family could attend with a goal completer for half price. So Tom accompanied me. We had maybe 25 people attend. I had hoped for a hundred. But I’m pleased some came and they enjoyed it a great deal.

He really has an amazing voice. He can sing at least 4 octaves; he did some impressive opera as well as Broadway and Christmas songs. His wife and daughter also sang. After we left Branson we drove to Miranda’s. They had headed out to Japan and we agreed to watch Camden and Ethan.  They were happy to see us.

Saturday they played well together. In the afternoon we went to a park. They played on the equipment and we went for a walk. Interesting. I wasn’t sure where we’d come out. But Tom directed us back to our car.

Today we had a Regional Conference broadcast. It was broadcast both in Mountain Home and in Broken Arrow… and points in between. Good speakers with talks about simplifying our lives and having faith in essential truths and trusting that eventually we’ll know the side questions that concern some.

The children got to Skype with Miranda and Dan that evening. Up until that point, they’d been pretty loving toward one another. And after they settled down, mostly. And now they are quiet in bed. I am grateful that we just have two darling children and Kera is having the joy of keeping Alex.  At this stage, one adult per child seems to be a good ratio.

And the beat goes on

This week I finished up my visiting teaching.  I write and call earlier in the month… but actually visiting, sometimes seems to come later in the month.

Last Tuesday Tom went to Andy and Kera's.  It was on exchange.  He gave them back their tile cutter, and they gave him back his power washer.  He then power washed the house and the porch in the hopes that he could re-stain the porch decking before winter.

The kids were having fun in their tree, so he took some pictures. (Rebecca some of these are especially for you.)

I spent some time researching Swarthout Family Reunion sites.  It’s really hard to find the perfect site.  Some places have commercial kitchens… but not good lodging.  Others have great lodging… but no play area.  Some have great activities, but no good central meeting place. Akk. What is most important?  Do we want to have lots of places to go… or do we want to spend more time doing things together?  Feedback appreciated!

Our tubby cat, Murphy has adjusted well to our house. We let them out of the barn during the day for a few days and he timidly explored and stayed close to the house and barn. Last evening as I went to feed them, Athena was sitting in the barn door. When I called, both of them ran out to greet me. It’s nice being loved.

I’ve continued to help my friend with her necklace making business. She has some gorgeous colors in necklaces now. She’s looking to do some craft shows and also exploring places where the necklaces can be sold on consignment. Any ideas are appreciated.

This was the week to get out the HVAC newsletter. It actually went pretty quickly. I think maybe I’m getting into a routine with it. I haven’t gotten revisions back yet, so maybe everyone else liked it, too. I think I have a job ghost writing a book for my life insurance agent and a booklet for my heat and air marketing guy. If so, that will keep me busy through the end of the year.

Friday we drove through Branson for some shopping and then on to Jonathan’s and Kristy’s to celebrate Miriam’s birthday. It was fun to see all the children and have a chance to visit with everyone. Tom made himself useful fixing small things around the house and helping build another pig house.

We got to see their new pigs and new dog. The pigs are quite friendly and hairy enough to pet. Being gone Friday night meant we missed our ward’s Fall Festival, which apparently was quite successful. We returned on Saturday to find cats and chickens had survived just fine without us.

Sunday we had a very nice fast and testimony meeting and a great Relief Society lesson on forgiveness.