Here are some of the interesting plants at the complex where Shawntele lives. Pictures do NOT do them justice.
The color of these flowers is so different. But pretty!
This might be a yucca plant. I don't know. Note the huge blooms up top.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Cool Flora
When we went to meet with Shawntele last evening, she wasn't there but still at work. We were supposed to meet the Traveling Elders there as well. Both they and Shawntele thought the other was going to contact us to say we weren't meeting until 7:30 (rather than 5:30). Oh well. We made a drop-in visit to Brother Tonnies instead. All worked out well.
Here are some of the interesting plants at the complex where Shawntele lives. Pictures do NOT do them justice.
Here are some of the interesting plants at the complex where Shawntele lives. Pictures do NOT do them justice.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Exercise
That's what I'm not getting enough of -- exercise! The weekend before this last one, we were both under the weather. So this last Saturday -- a beautiful day, I might add -- we loaded up the bikes and drove half way to Ojai. This ride is a bit strenuous (for us), but we were looking forward to it. When we unloaded the bikes, we discovered Randy's had a very flat tire. So, instead of a bike ride, we went for a car drive. Hmm. Didn't burn very many calories that day! ~~ Randy took his bike in to get it fixed. Last night he noticed it was flat again. Gotta get that taken care of by next Saturday!!! ~~
And evenings we have been driving to Ventura to meet with Shawntele. No bike rides in the evenings for us. But we are nevertheless managing to eat quite well. Not a good combination.
I have been walking in the mornings, but it will soon be too dark to go out in the mornings by myself in my neighborhood.
Help!
And evenings we have been driving to Ventura to meet with Shawntele. No bike rides in the evenings for us. But we are nevertheless managing to eat quite well. Not a good combination.
I have been walking in the mornings, but it will soon be too dark to go out in the mornings by myself in my neighborhood.
Help!
Supply Woes
You saw my complaint about our last order. Well, here's the rest of the story. So, I reordered all the non-Spanish items, yes, that would be all the English items, over the phone when I called to report that we only received 6 forms instead of 600.
So yesterday that order arrived. Guess what? We had ordered 16 packages (1 case) of Word of Wisdom pamphlets. And on the shipping invoice that is what we were charged for. Each package contains 25 pamphlets. Well, in the box that arrived, we had 16 pamphlets. Not packages -- pamphlets. Someone had to rip open a package and count out 16 individual pamphlets. When I called to report this, the first thing I heard on the other end of the telephone was a big sigh. Then, "We'll get those shipped right out to you." (Obviously frustrating at that end, too.) I have to wonder who they have there filling these orders!?! Sister Blue says when she returns home, she just might have to make a trip to the distribution center and see what the process is when they get these orders from the missions. :)
The rest of the order was perfect.
So yesterday that order arrived. Guess what? We had ordered 16 packages (1 case) of Word of Wisdom pamphlets. And on the shipping invoice that is what we were charged for. Each package contains 25 pamphlets. Well, in the box that arrived, we had 16 pamphlets. Not packages -- pamphlets. Someone had to rip open a package and count out 16 individual pamphlets. When I called to report this, the first thing I heard on the other end of the telephone was a big sigh. Then, "We'll get those shipped right out to you." (Obviously frustrating at that end, too.) I have to wonder who they have there filling these orders!?! Sister Blue says when she returns home, she just might have to make a trip to the distribution center and see what the process is when they get these orders from the missions. :)
The rest of the order was perfect.
Talks
I think I mentioned that President Jones, our stake president in Ventura, challenged us to write a General Conference-quality talk, right? Well, I had every intention of doing that, and then we were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting on September 23rd -- and we were given a topic. Wait a minute! That assigned topic certainly isn't the one I had been thinking of to prepare my other talk -- the "big" talk! So, now I need to prepare yet another talk! I better get on it! Because we are supposed to have it almost ready by General Conference, then listen carefully to see if we get further insights on our topic. Sigh. (No, I'm not ready yet.) You're right -- I should be working on my talk instead of updating my blog. Sigh again.
Elder Mecham and I both spoke on the topic of "General Conference" last Sunday. We took up the entire allotted time and didn't really cross over into each other's talks. Amazing. My talk went okay and I felt pretty good about it. I talked about President Monson's promises he gave in his opening remarks last Arpil at the beginning of General Conference and discussed ways we can be prepared to partake of the feast that will be laid before us October 6th and 7th. Then I sang, "If I Listen With My Heart," which I felt went well with our topic. My voice wasn't 100 percent, but it went okay. (Today, Wednesday, I'm still coughing some.) No, it wasn't my idea to speak and sing on the same day.
I put this link out on facebook and email, but it really is such a great site which contains other helpful links. Just in case anyone is interested. Wish I'd had this kind of help when I was raising my kids :)
http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/03/general-conference-activity-notebook.html
Elder Mecham gave an awesome talk about the history of conferences - it was so interesting. He shared a personal experience he remembered from when Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke at our stake conference in Pocatello when Elder Mecham was in the stake presidency. At a dinner between Saturday sessions, Elder Oaks had a few minutes and said he would answer any questions. Someone asked him if the apostles and others were given topics for their talks at General Conference. He said they were not. They rely completely upon inspiration. Then he said he often has impressions come to him as to what he should speak on for the next General Conference as he is sitting quietly in General Conference. Elder Mecham commented that none of us has any idea what is going to be happening in the world six months from now, but Heavenly Father knows, and he sees that his chosen leaders are inspired to give us the counsel we will need at that time. What a testimony of our Heavenly Father's love for us, his children!
Elder Mecham and I both spoke on the topic of "General Conference" last Sunday. We took up the entire allotted time and didn't really cross over into each other's talks. Amazing. My talk went okay and I felt pretty good about it. I talked about President Monson's promises he gave in his opening remarks last Arpil at the beginning of General Conference and discussed ways we can be prepared to partake of the feast that will be laid before us October 6th and 7th. Then I sang, "If I Listen With My Heart," which I felt went well with our topic. My voice wasn't 100 percent, but it went okay. (Today, Wednesday, I'm still coughing some.) No, it wasn't my idea to speak and sing on the same day.
I put this link out on facebook and email, but it really is such a great site which contains other helpful links. Just in case anyone is interested. Wish I'd had this kind of help when I was raising my kids :)
http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/03/general-conference-activity-notebook.html
Elder Mecham gave an awesome talk about the history of conferences - it was so interesting. He shared a personal experience he remembered from when Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke at our stake conference in Pocatello when Elder Mecham was in the stake presidency. At a dinner between Saturday sessions, Elder Oaks had a few minutes and said he would answer any questions. Someone asked him if the apostles and others were given topics for their talks at General Conference. He said they were not. They rely completely upon inspiration. Then he said he often has impressions come to him as to what he should speak on for the next General Conference as he is sitting quietly in General Conference. Elder Mecham commented that none of us has any idea what is going to be happening in the world six months from now, but Heavenly Father knows, and he sees that his chosen leaders are inspired to give us the counsel we will need at that time. What a testimony of our Heavenly Father's love for us, his children!
Not Yet --
I've been out on Craig's List trying to find us another apartment. We actually really like our townhouse apartment, but the neighborhood is less than desirable. We have some neighbors who are not only very loud, but they fight a lot. I have heard the "f" word more these last couple weeks than the rest of my entire life. I'm tired of it, so I've been seriously searching for another apartment. Plus, we are now attending church in Ventura in addition to meeting with an investigator nearly every day up there, so we are really putting the miles on our car. Although it's not far away -- probably about 10 miles -- all that going back and forth surely does add up. Besides, the mission does want us to eventually (before we leave in a year) get an apartment that's all on one level. And I'm holding out for a washer and dryer -- at least hookups within the apartment. I honestly don't care about a dishwasher, but a washer and dryer -- ah, that would be so nice!
Yesterday I thought I'd found the perfect apartment. It advertised as having a garage, washer and dryer, and a dishwasher, located in a quiet neighborhood. I was excited! The pictures online made it look desirable. But alas, the owner would not set up/work with a corporate account, which is what we have to do -- the church pays for the apartment, not the actual occupants. The realtor was all for it but could not convince the owner to do it. So we figure there must be something even better out there for us, right? The realtor said she will keep us in mind and call if anything fitting our needs becomes available, because she has rented to the church before and thinks it's a good set up for a rental. She says she often gets 30-day-notice calls the first of the month.
Thankfully, last night was a quiet night in our neighborhood.
Yesterday I thought I'd found the perfect apartment. It advertised as having a garage, washer and dryer, and a dishwasher, located in a quiet neighborhood. I was excited! The pictures online made it look desirable. But alas, the owner would not set up/work with a corporate account, which is what we have to do -- the church pays for the apartment, not the actual occupants. The realtor was all for it but could not convince the owner to do it. So we figure there must be something even better out there for us, right? The realtor said she will keep us in mind and call if anything fitting our needs becomes available, because she has rented to the church before and thinks it's a good set up for a rental. She says she often gets 30-day-notice calls the first of the month.
Thankfully, last night was a quiet night in our neighborhood.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Charles C.
Oh, did I mention that Elder Scadlock, one of the new elders that Elder Mecham and I picked up at LAX a couple weeks ago, is related to me? He is a descendant of Charles C. Rich too! He is from the sixth wife, Harriet Sargent. We also have an Elder Rich in our mission who is also from the sixth wife. Our family comes from his third wife, Mary Ann Phelps. Elder Scadlock is from Utah and Elder Rich is from Mississippi.
I wonder how many descendants Charles C. now has?
I wonder how many descendants Charles C. now has?
Office Happenings
Monday is a blur. I was taking cold meds and was admittedly in a fog. No more meds since then, and I feel a TON better. (Thank you, Heavenly Father, for a quick recovery!) Now just an annoying cough.
Tuesday we received emails informing of 14 new missionaries! Wow - That's the most received on one day that's come in since I've been here. Yay - work to do! Boo - the church application we use did not include their pictures - which we really need! First time that has happened! Anyway, we are waiting for them to get that glitch fixed. Of course, we have been able to get many things done.
One missionary from Rochester, New York, one from Arizona, and one from Florida. Several from Idaho and Utah. Some coming in November, some in January and a couple in February. We LOVE getting new missionaries! (One new elder is from Ammon, Idaho, and Elder Mecham's chiropractor, Dr. Mayo, knows him. Dr. Mayo has been a bishop in Ammon. We emailed and asked him if he knew the elder. He emailed back, "Of course I know him! There are only 10 people in Ammon - how could I NOT know him?" Haha!
Ordering missionary supplies from SLC can sometimes be frustrating. Sister Blue has had her share of frustrations previously. So I've made up an order form that I fill out and fax. Last shipment, we got everything as ordered. No problem. Today (Thursday) we received one box of our order, not too unusual to receive only one box -- the others we figured would be here tomorrow. Oddly, only Spanish items were in the box. Again -- just figured everything else would arrive soon. However, we had ordered 6 pkgs (600) Progress Records in Spanish. And that's exactly how I had it on the order form -- 6 pkgs (600). In our shipment were 6 single forms. Hmmm, I wonder what mission anywhere in the world would send in an order of only 6 solitary forms. I WAS just going to wait until the rest of our order arrived to see if they made the same mistake for the English Progress Records and also the Teaching Records, of which we also ordered 600. But I decided to call and check. I'm glad I did, because I learned that NONE of the English language supplies made it into our order. Yikes! Now, mind you, the order I send has everything neatly arranged in a table, English items first with Spanish items in the next column, all with appropriate stock numbers. All on one page. This is because they have really messed up on the orders in the past, so I wanted it to be as crystal clear as possible. I'm still dumbfounded -- SIX single solitary forms! Crazy, huh? It would be interesting to see what the process is at the other end.
Tuesday we received emails informing of 14 new missionaries! Wow - That's the most received on one day that's come in since I've been here. Yay - work to do! Boo - the church application we use did not include their pictures - which we really need! First time that has happened! Anyway, we are waiting for them to get that glitch fixed. Of course, we have been able to get many things done.
One missionary from Rochester, New York, one from Arizona, and one from Florida. Several from Idaho and Utah. Some coming in November, some in January and a couple in February. We LOVE getting new missionaries! (One new elder is from Ammon, Idaho, and Elder Mecham's chiropractor, Dr. Mayo, knows him. Dr. Mayo has been a bishop in Ammon. We emailed and asked him if he knew the elder. He emailed back, "Of course I know him! There are only 10 people in Ammon - how could I NOT know him?" Haha!
Ordering missionary supplies from SLC can sometimes be frustrating. Sister Blue has had her share of frustrations previously. So I've made up an order form that I fill out and fax. Last shipment, we got everything as ordered. No problem. Today (Thursday) we received one box of our order, not too unusual to receive only one box -- the others we figured would be here tomorrow. Oddly, only Spanish items were in the box. Again -- just figured everything else would arrive soon. However, we had ordered 6 pkgs (600) Progress Records in Spanish. And that's exactly how I had it on the order form -- 6 pkgs (600). In our shipment were 6 single forms. Hmmm, I wonder what mission anywhere in the world would send in an order of only 6 solitary forms. I WAS just going to wait until the rest of our order arrived to see if they made the same mistake for the English Progress Records and also the Teaching Records, of which we also ordered 600. But I decided to call and check. I'm glad I did, because I learned that NONE of the English language supplies made it into our order. Yikes! Now, mind you, the order I send has everything neatly arranged in a table, English items first with Spanish items in the next column, all with appropriate stock numbers. All on one page. This is because they have really messed up on the orders in the past, so I wanted it to be as crystal clear as possible. I'm still dumbfounded -- SIX single solitary forms! Crazy, huh? It would be interesting to see what the process is at the other end.
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