Weak things become strong

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Ether 12:27, " And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I am working on many things that I would like to become stronger in. This week I managed to make four laps in a row jogging at the rec. center. That may not be impressive for a younger person, but at my age its pretty good. My goal is to be able to jog a mile before the year is out. I'm noticing that I'm feeling better for it. I'm working on keeping my kitchen table cleared off and I am improving. I'm striving to do my callings, not just out of duty, but with enthusiasm to show the Lord that I am delighted to serve him. I'm trying to improve as a cook, and I am learning to love to cook. I'm striving to improve in areas of my work too. With almost any job you do, if you are always trying to improve, the job becomes more enjoyable.

I was also able to make an improvement in our home. We got a new couch and love seat. I never thought I would have both in the front room, but these are smaller than standard couches and loveseats, so I think it works. I love the way they feel. They fit me nicely.

I had another nice week. I realized that I had so many things to do around the house that I kept being distracted by one thing or another. I realized I needed to work on being focused on what was most pressing and not get distracted by other things. I finished my couch cushions that I started last summer. I can't believe it took me so long to finish them, but I am pleased with the results and excited to get on to another quilting project. I learned how to use the new family search web site. Little by little I am gaining skill with technology. I still have much to learn, but I am grateful for any improvement. Now that I am not in the kitchen canning, I have been able to keep my house cleaner. Dad and I had a nice day off together on Saturday. We went to Grant's dress rehearsal for his primary program, I had lunch at Super Saturday, we did sealings in the temple and Craig took me shopping for a skirt and some jeans I had been needing. We ate supper at the food court in the mall and came home and watched a movie about Mother Teresa. It was very inspiring. There were two important things I was reminded of as I watched it. First, in the beginning, when Mother Teresa began her work among the poor, she neglected her own needs until she passed out one day caring for some sick people. She had to learn to care for herself before she could have the strength to care for others. This is an area I am trying to improve in. I have often neglected my own needs for many other things. Not in a life threatening sort of way, but I am learning it is good to take care of myself first, when possible. The other thing that impressed me was the fact that many people were angry and suspicious of her at first. I realized that for the Hindu people, Christianity had meant domination by Great Britain. The British had not treated them in a Christian manner so they wanted no part of Christianity. I'm sure Mother Teresa has been instrumental in preparing people's hearts to hear the Gospel when it is preached to them. I really liked this movie. I've included pictures of Dad's new bike, your picture of roses, Emily and one of my new couch cushions.

It has been a week of simple pleasures. I think they are the best. This week I helped some of young women in a disaster drill to help a young man get his Eagle. I was touched by the young women's enthusiasm and willingness to serve this way. I think maybe the great strength of young people is their enthusiasm and I need to learn from their example. Thursday was a nice day. Danica and Benjamin and Nathan came to visit. Craig had the day off. He helped me prepare apples to dry in my fruit dryer. I made homemade chicken noodle soup to take to a sick ward member and I found a nice recipe for pumpkin cookies. With the smell of the pumpkin cookies baking and the soup bubbling and Craig working at my side it made for a pleasant afternoon. We enjoyed Danica's company as well and spent some time basking in baby Nathan's special light. I gave Benjamin a hair cut and he handled it fairly well. Later in the evening, Craig and I ran errands together. We are always glad to spend time with each other.

Saturday morning, I attended the temple and then I was off to Grant's recital. He did a nice job on his viola number and Charity was on the program as well, giving a memorable bow (the bow was her performance) We went to lunch after, to celebrate. While we were eating lunch, Grant announced that next we would be going to the park. I said to him, "I might not be able to make it". He said, "Well actually we're all going to the park". He said this with the emphasis on "all", so I made time to go to the park and watch them play for a short time. I came home and was able to get the house clean for Sunday. It always gives me a feeling of peace when the house is clean.

Debbie hosted a very nice evening on Halloween night. Missy and Danica and their families came. Craig had to work. We had a nice dinner together and then Dan the hero, took the kids trick-or-treating. Brian offered to take the door duty so the girls could do what we do best -visit. It was a very pleasant evening. My husband and children are my best friends.

Halloween Hoopla

I have had a good week. I'm back on my exercise routine, and I have accomplished some good things. I made a birthday dress for Olivia and a harvest table runner. I've been spending so much time in the kitchen, it felt good to work in my sewing room for a change.

Saturday was an especially nice day. Craig and I began the day in the temple and then I made apple sauce and prepared for the Halloween Party. We began the party at five. We fed the kids first. They had corndogs, corn grapes, muffins, and mouse candy for dinner (sliced string cheese). The Holm kids were there a little early and helped me carve a face on my Jack-O-Lantern. Joseph drew it and James carved. Ian cut out pumpkins for the pumpkin walk and Katherine cut up the mouse candy. Melany was there early as well, with her children and helped me make preparations. After the kids ate, the adults had Missy's chili, Debbie's potato soup, and Emily's recipe for white bean chili. We had fresh vegetables and grapes and Danica made muffins and Halloween cupcakes for dessert. After dinner, we played games. We gave the children chewing gum and played "Pin the Wart on the Witch's nose. It was difficult to tell who was the real winner because of a somewhat inadequate blindfold. After that game we sat in a circle with a pan and two dice. We passed the pan and if you rolled a seven or an eleven you got to put on gloves and see how many candy kisses you could unwrap and eat before some on else rolled the lucky numbers. Last of all we played our traditional "Pumpkin walk". Before we started the games, I told the children to be aware that we would be eating lots and candy and there would be lots of wrappers to throw away. I warned them in my most tough grandma voice that if I saw anyone throw a wrapper on the floor, I would make them into the Headless Horseman. When two year old Benjamin heard that, he shouted, "Hooray!" We all got a good laugh out of that. We let the children go trick-or-treating and play a little longer and then one by one they went home and I was bushed. I hope everyone had a good time!

Greenfield Village

Today is Saturday, October 17. Craig, Emily, Olivia and I visited Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum complex. We loved this place! It's like Disney Land for Senior Citizens, but it is also a nice place for families. It is a historic village with a working farm and many people working in the village and homes that help you feel you are going back in time. There was a part of Thomas Edison's laboratory, many homes from famous Americans, craftsworks, and homes from many localities. We really needed three days to see it all. We rode a train, took a drive in a model T, a horse drawn stage, and an old fashioned bus. We loved riding the carousel with Olivia because she was delighted with it. Our favorite home we saw was the Cotswold Cottage. It was darling. I always wanted to see the Cotwolds in England. Today I got to sample that. It was pretty cold outside but we could go into buildings to look around and get warm. We had some good warm food at the "Taste of History " restaurant. We have seen other historical villages like this, but nothing to compare with the size of this village. It was a really fun day!

Cranbrook

Today we slept in until 8:15, in our luxurious guest room at the Daley Sanatorium. It felt great! We visited Cranbrook Manor to see a beautiful old home and gardens. We learned about the Arts and Crafts movement in interior design. All the wood work in the home was done by hand which is typical of the Arts and Crafts movement. People of this day felt that hand crafted items were superior to things made in a factory. A man named William Morris said this about the Arts and Crafts movement. "Now it is one of the chief uses of decoration, the chief part of its alliance with nature, that it has to sharpen our dulled senses in this matter: for this end are those wonders of intricate patterns interwoven, those strange forms invented, that men have so long delighted in: forms and intricacies that do not necessarily imitate nature, but in which the hand of the craftsman is guided to work in the way that she does, till the web, the cup, or the knife, look as natural, nay as lovely, as the green field, the river bank, or the mountain flint.

To give people pleasure in the things they must perforce use, that is one great office of decoration; to give people pleasure in the things they must perforce make, that is the other use of it."