Is anybody there?

I haven't written for at least 6 months. I have been having more fun on FB, and enjoy listening to Youtube. I've been busy with other things as well.

Being Erica

I just watched a CBC show called "Being Erica" and I love it.

I've been busy lately. I had to ask to be released from a calling, because I had 2 callings. I could not do both well, because they take up a lot of my time. I found out from my DH that anyone who took on the first calling was not supposed to take on a second one. It was another case of one hand not knowing what the other hand was doing. All I can say is "Whew!" I'm glad to be down to one.

I've been reading "The Sociopath Next Door" and it is very interesting. I am supposed to be reading the book for tomorrow's book club, but I am so enthralled with the first book. The book club is reading "Jacob and the Prodigal", which is very bible scholarly, and takes some intense concentration on my part to read.

Oh, and I belong to 2 book clubs. The other club is reading a book I read a while ago.

Delivering Christmas

I was given an assignment to deliver 5 bags of Christmas goodies. My "boss", if I could call her that, came over last evening to bring the bags, so I could take them to the Primary workers who live near me. I am the Primary Secretary, and my "boss" is the Primary President. We work at teaching the kids from ages 18 months to age twelve.

So today I had DH drive me to other people's houses. But first he needed to go to the church building and do some shoveling. The people in charge had asked him to come at 7 PM tonight, but he was afraid there would be a freeze over, and it would be too hard to remove the snow. We do have quite a few members who own snow blowers, but for some reason, they didn't think of using those. There is one in the church's shed, but they aren't sure where the key is.

So, DH drives past there earlier this morning to see what needs to be done, and some wonderful soul had already been there, and used a snow blower to clean off most of the walkways. DH took DD back to the building and they shovelled a little bit to make sure it was clear.

DH has been shovelling and blowing snow for the past 2 days. He could not take his snow blower to church because he uses an electric blower. That way, he doesn't have to worry about gas, but he would need an outside electric outlet to use it at church, or open up a window inside the building, with the cord hanging out. It's not the best way to clear up the snow.

We went to our first stop, and dropped off a bag to a young woman named Anna, who is 6 months pregnant. Her dogs were all excited, but I did not venture into her house. She said thanks a couple of times, and we left. Next stop - another duplex a few doors up from Anna's place. I knew the person, a widow named Sue, would most likely still be at work. Sue is a widow. I knocked, and heard more doggie excitement, but no Sue. I left the bag's handle draped over the door knob, with her Christmas card tucked into the door frame.

The next stop: Matt and Sue Ellen's apartment. Sue Ellen is one of the counselors working in Primary, and I had to drop off the Primary class rolls for this coming Sunday, as we will be traveling up to Cashtown for a family Christmas dinner. We visited with Matt, and Sue Ellen was still at work, because she works from 11AM until 7PM.

Then we drove over to a married couple's home to deliver 2 bags of goodies, because they both work in Primary. I knocked on the door, and there was no answer. However, the door swung open on it's own, and I left the bags and card right there next to the door. I think the wife was home, and she was probably occupied someplace in the house where she could not hear us knock.

So, the last place was a street close to home. When we arrived, we could see that the driveway had not been cleared off yet. I wondered if they were home. Well, they actually have 2 driveways, and neither one was clear. Then we saw Brenda in her neighbors driveway. I gave her the gift bag and card, and DH decided to help her clear one of her driveways. I have a bad shoulder, so I sat it out inside, while they cleared off the driveway.

DH is such a helper!

Anyway, my MIL called tonight to thank us for the candy we sent her. We always buy some candy from Rhebs, and we know the family likes it. We love it, too, and always have a box at Christmas.

Soooo...

I'm pretty happy right now. DH is home for the rest of the year, there is major snow on the ground, I'm ready for Christmas (almost), I'm feeling okay. What more could you ask for?

Last week I would have liked a little slower pace, because I have two callings at church. Both were keeping me very busy. I also have to do housewife stuff, so housework suffered.

I've been watching HGTV a lot lately, and drooling over the kitchens and bathrooms. The house we are in right now has a small kitchen, and a small bathroom. I like the kitchen window, which is good for growing herbs. I will be planting seeds there soon. I only have one lonely lemon verbena plant there now.

I don't like the fact that there is no window in our bathroom. We actually have 2 bathrooms, and neither one has a window. I know we will have to rectify that when we build our retirement home. DH said to make a list, so windows in the kitchen and bathroom are on my list. Also, a much bigger kitchen, and a master bathroom.

Merry Christmas!

Almost ready!

For Christmas, that is. It's been a month since my last post. Time sure does fly by so quickly these days. I've had some amazing things happen this month. I signed onto a family search program that my church has, and I am adding to my family tree. It's so much fun, and I've done some of the temple work for my family. My parents have been gone since 2002, and 2007, so I've started them off one November 20th by doing their baptisms and confirmations. It just so happens that November is both of their birthdays, so happy birthday, Mom and Dad.

I also started the work for one ancestor who had her work done previously by someone who erroneously did the work as though she was a man. I know she was a female, because I've been to her grave. She is buried next to her husband on the Evergreen Cemetery on the Gettysburg Battlefield in PA. I've been there several times. I need to get those pictures of graves together in one place in a scrapbook.

I also had a great Thanksgiving with a lot of the family in attendance over in Harpers Ferry, WV. It was good to see all of the youngsters.

I also got a new laptop computer, and a new 7" television to set next to the computer. I originally thought the television would make a good kitchen tv, but it does not pick up the on air channels very well, so it's hooked up to cable, and gets quite a few channels. I can also detach it from the cable and play videos though a USB port or using a SD card.

Post Halloween

There is still too much candy in the house, and my resistance is low. Eeek!

I am looking forward to seeing family at Thursday's wedding in the DC Temple. Then afterward we are going to the Cheesecake Factory for linner (that's the meal between lunch and dinner). I haven't been to the CF since my Baltimore days, so it's been about 10 years ago, at least. The one at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore is usually hopping with so many people, but since we will be dining (or is it linnering) at the White Flint Mall location in the middle of the day, it should not be too crowded. The reviewers at Yelp say that service can be bad at that location.

DD had fun on Friday at a church single's barn dance. She dressed up like a rocker, took the guitar hero guitar as a prop, and did her hair and makeup. She doesn't usually wear makeup. She looked really pretty, as you can see in the photo.

Spring Vacation planning

Well, I've been looking at places to stay in Orem/Provo Utah this Spring, and now that I have the dates for DD's spring break (March 29th - April 4th), I guess we can start making reservations. I have a few places that are quite reasonable, and they are not actually hotel or motel rooms. They are apartment style rooms with full kitchens in a house. One place is right in Provo, where MIL lives, and the other is in Orem, which is right next to Provo. We are going out there to celebrate MIL's 90th birthday. Her birthday is actually on the 8th of April, but school is very important to DD, so I'm sure family will understand.

Now we also should figure out which classes DD will be taking, as that will impact our travel plans. This past semester, she to spread out her classes over the week, so she doesn't get into a crunch time with papers and projects all due on the same day. It has worked out well for her, and she's getting good grades. We will start the registration process this weekend, so we can be sure she has the classes she needs, and that we can choose our travel times according to her classes.