before the holiday

 

With temperatures in the mid 80s, we enjoyed doing what we love to do at the Birdhouse. 

          

 

 

 

Papa negotiating forgiveness after taking the kids on a ride that was “not fun, and not funny” according to Carter.

Getting ready for a solo ride.

Brianna’s friend, Rachel, jumped in to rescue Fiddle, a stow-a-way lizard.

   

junior varsity girl

 

Brianna tried out to play basketball for her high school and made the junior varsity team. She chose the number her dad wore when he was a freshman as well.

They had their first home game this afternoon and won 55-21.

 

Well done girls!

missionary memoirs

Sister McClure is the mission leader for our group called Carolina Contacts. I was assigned to her group when I finished my classes to become an online support missionary for new FamilySearch. The group size fluctuates but there are normally about a dozen of us.

Sister McClure helps each one of us feel valuable. She  kindly and gently trains us so that we can better serve our patrons. In  difficult situations  she has been my champion, and I have seen her do the same for others in our group. She has been a wonderful source of encouragement to all of us.

I have really wanted to actually meet her. Today it was my blessing to do so.

We met up at a pretty little chapel in Columbia, not far from the temple.  I think she is a very interesting woman. For example, as we chatted, she told me about a couple of projects that she has been involved with lately. One of them is an indexing project. It was previously believed that before 1870 there were few, if any records regarding the slave population in the south. Recently, however, records have been found in many plantations with census information and soon this information, for approximately 30,000 individuals, will be available online. She also shared some articles that she has been writing about genealogical resources. There are many reasons that she is an inspiration to all of us, but it is her kind heart that draws us in.

We  prayed together, and then, I continued on my way. It was a great experience that I enjoyed thinking about all during my journey home and will remember with fondness.

house in the woods

This is where I worshipped today:

With them:

Happy Sunday.

turkey apples

I keep caramels in a turkey shaped container during the Thanksgiving holidays. Ever since Courtney was a little child and asked me for “some turkey” we have called caramels “turkey” at our house.

Tonight we put a new spin on turkey and I taught them how to melt it and goop it onto apples.

While waiting for it to harden in the refrigerator, we smashed up Halloween candy and melted chocolate for the second coat.

After more decorating,

 

and more chilling,

well…they all loved eating their turkey apples.

the gleaners

I got lost returning home from the gymnastics run with Carter. The scenery was great, and I would have enjoyed it if I hadn’t been so terrified. After realizing I was lost and that it would take me a very long time to find my way home, I called California and  Tricia patiently talked me back to  familiar territory again.

I have been thinking about those dehydrated corn fields. They were worth a second look:

    

school holiday

The kids have plenty of live entertainment at home today.

 

 

 

 

This afternoon we hiked and scootered the nature trail here in the neighborhood and then ended up at the park. JB wasn’t feeling well, having scraped up both knees on the aforementioned activities.

We enjoyed the glorious earth and the freedom we have to enjoy it. The kids talked with respect about the Veterans and seemed to sense the importance of their service and sacrifice. I thought about Brianna’s friend, Rachel. Her dad, away for a year now, serves on the other side of the globe, while his wife and family miss him.

Thanks to Rachel’s dad and all the others who honorably have served and do serve our country.

colorful competition

I recently read a book about how we make decisions.  All the resources in my brain must have been working furiously (since I hate driving and love to be with my grandkids) when I decided to go to North Carolina so that I could tend the little ones…

I made the first part of the journey last night to St. Augustine and spent the evening with my brother to knock off the first two hours of the trip.

I woke up early and began my journey north, wending my way across the bridges of Jacksonville at sunrise and before the morning commuters were on their ways. The next couple of hours were challenging because the fog had rolled in off the coast of Georgia and settled on the I-95. South Carolina is the longest part of the journey and it was with a grateful heart that I was able to finally see well past where I would be in two seconds time. I put in my book on CD and continued onward.

It was the last hour and a half, normally the least interesting part of the drive, when I experienced this tender mercy:

Fall has come late to the Carolinas and blessedly made the final stretch the best of all.

 

Every bend in the road revealing vistas as beautiful as the previous ones.

definitely carrying on

In 2001, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. The doctor wanted me to immediately go on cholesterol medication because I was so thin and so he opined that changing my diet would have no effect. Nevertheless, before I went on the medication, I did change my diet, and I was able to lower my cholesterol to a level that was acceptable to me.  I have faithfully monitored my diet for the past ten years always hanging near the 200 mark. Last December it was 212.

A couple of months ago, I read an article about the Whole Foods Market that referenced the Engine 2 Diet. Doing more research about this diet, I found that it claims to naturally lower your cholesterol. I decided to try it.

Two months have passed and today I went to have my blood work done. As I was driving along in my car, I pondered what kind of number I would need to carry on with this diet. It has taken some time and effort to nearly eliminate meat and dairy from my daily intake. It has required approaching grocery shopping differently and searching for new recipes and/or adapting old ones.

I decided that it would have to be at least 192 or lower to keep it up. When the result came through, I was astounded—

143.

In fact, I was so thrilled, I actually sent a thank you note to the author of the book via his website…and received a response!

“Absolutely fabulous Debbie!!!
May we have your permission to publish your story on our web site/blog? 
Thanks for sharing with us.  Plant-based really does work!”

primary presentation

I do love my responsibility leading the elementary school kids during their singing time at church each Sunday. Once a year the children are responsible for the talks and music during Sacrament Meeting and today was the day. In my opinion, the children were amazing.

It was a  thrill to have my four visiting grandchildren join us and to see them singing their hearts out as well. I felt like it was especially for me.

The time has come and gone ever so quickly. Right after church, they had to head back to Charlotte for school and work responsibilities, but not before I received a private concert from Carter (and we even talked Cork into playing a tune though she has only been taking lessons for a few weeks.)

They are so talented!

saturday night

 

We got their parents off to the Candy Hall of Fame Event. Their other grandpa was being inducted for his world renown work in chocolate.

I made macaroni and cheese by request. I do make the best macaroni and cheese in the whole wide world. In case you are wondering, they told me so. We played Five Crowns with our two left-behinders before dressing up for our own special event this evening. Thank heaven we have an in house babysitter.

Then we were off to the Second Annual Adult Dance at the church.