Sunday, 1 March 2020

It looks like I completely missed posting anything in February.  I would like to post once a month but I get so busy with other things, I forget.

Today marks 7 1/2 months since I entered the MTC, which means I have 15 1/2 months to go.  The time is going quickly and I know 14 June 2021 will be here before I know it.

11 February I celebrated my 83rd birthday!  That seems sooo old, but I am greatly blessed with good health and energy and I am thankful the Lord has given me this opportunity to serve.  I feel His love each day and marvel at that.  Scott & Julie invited me for dinner and then bowling, followed by Coldstone ice cream, to celebrate.  I have always enjoyed bowling but found that the arthritis in my thumb and fingers was a hindrance.  Since that is the only thing that is a problem, I certainly can't complain.  Sad, though, to think that will be the last time I go bowling.  Although Scott did offer to get me the thing they use for little kids to just put the ball on it and rolls down it and the alley.

My iPhone died in February so Scott & Julie helped me buy an iPhone 11 and figure out how to sync it to my car.  Otherwise, it isn't really different than my old one.  I have learned how to use Alexa to add to my shopping list and then follow it at the store. 

A trip to the dentist for my semi-annual cleaning brought some not-so-good news.  I have some periodontal disease in my gums which the dentist expects will be taken care of with a deep, thorough cleaning every 3 months for a year.  The x-rays also showed the need for another root canal in a front tooth.  That is scheduled for this Wednesday.  I'm told there is only one canal with the front tooth, as opposed to the 3 with the molar I had done earlier.   I'm thankful for dental insurance and thankful to have found a good dentist.  The hygienist gave me the most thorough cleaning I've ever had.

I finalized the history of Jacob Raymond and Sophie or Sophia Marie Geissler Klundt this week, had copies made and have them in envelopes to mail to their grandchildren and great grandchildren.  After having now written the history of my parents and my in-laws, I realize how important it is for each person to write their own history.  Trying to do it after the main people had passed away, and with no written records by any of them, it is really difficult to be able to write a complete history. 

I am in the process of writing Art's history and mine.  Mine will, obviously be more complete.

There are seasons in Arizona!  I am seeing the light green leaves on the deciduous trees and some wildflowers blooming.  We had one day in February when the thermometer reached 80!  I have enjoyed the mild winter here.  There was only one day that I wore my warm winter coat.  I layer tops for work and, if it's a little colder or raining, I wear my raincoat.  I don't look forward to the heat of summer.

I invited Scott and Julie for dinner today.  I am losing confidence in my cooking skills, such as they ever were.  I made some pecan pie bars and had to laugh at a couple of things I did.  I had picked up pecans and shelled them, from the trees in the yard, but needed more so bought some at the store yesterday.  When I opened them to use in the bars, they were praline pecans.  I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed that at the store.  So, broke up the pieces and used them, anyway.  As though pecan pie needs more sugar.  The other thing I did upsets me.  The recipe called for 1 3/4 C of butter for the crust.  I just read it wrong and put only 3/4 C.  so, the crust is really just flour.  Made me think of the pioneers who lived on flour and water as they crossed the plains.  My admiration for them has increased.

One of the great blessings of this mission is the association with the other missionaries and watching the young Elders and Sisters as they grow.  It is such a loving and supportive community of missionaries that they feel accepted and safe.  One young Elder this week gave the best devotional thought he's ever done.  He downloaded a talk and a short video on his phone and then connected it to the laptop which puts it on a screen for all to see.  It's difficult for him to speak so he can be understood, but he tries and I feel that everyone is just praying for him. 

I think I've learned how to do the book scanning.  The scanning and auditing are not difficult, but there are rules about what can and cannot be scanned and little details to learn.    There is much to do at the ROC.  This week we had 48 indexing projects.  We had 28 the week before and that was an all-time high number.  We have projects in Spanish, Portuguese, French, American Samoan, and projects from Africa, Australia, U.K., and several states in the U.S.   It's challenging but with the help of Google translate and with some figuring things out, it's rewarding.  The projects vary in size, some are finished quickly and others, like one we just finished last month, take months.  We had worked on that one ever since we arrived.  It's nice to have variety from which to choose.

One more February thing:  Sister Tolman and I hosted the senior missionary monthly Family Home Evening.  All that involved was providing the dessert (we did a decorated Costco cake) and the program.  For that, we chose to have a sing-a-long of old love songs (for Valentine's Day).  It turned out well and was enjoyable to hear everyone enjoying the old songs.  That should be the only one we have to do, as there are enough couples to spread the joy around for the next 15 months.