I Am Not a Dog Person--My Buddies

I am not a dog person; never have, never will be. 

However, soon after Joe’s death I found myself not wanting to go home.  After a trip I would run errands, or dilly dally around.  After analyzing why I didn’t want to go home I realized it was because the loneliness was awful.  So, I got a hypo allergic dog.  He needed a companion so, I got another dog.  

I have noticed that when the dogs are not here, I am really lonely.  It’s not like I always play with them, or have them sitting on my lap—remember I don’t like dogs—but there is a real difference when they are not here.  There is something to be said for having another living presence in your living space.  

I also appreciate the alerts they give me if someone is at the door or if there is something going on in the neighborhood.  They are a security factor that allows me to sleep better and feel safer during the day.

I am not a dog person; however these two have given me great companionship!

Prayers are Answered

In primary the children sing:

“Heavenly Father are you really there,

And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer?”

found here:  

In Relief Society we answer the question:

The errand of angels is given to women;

And this is a gift that, as sisters we claim:

To do whatso every is gentle an human,

To cheer and to bless in humanity’s name.

found here:  

The purpose of visiting teaching is to minister.

·  Pray daily for [the sister you visit] and her family.

·  Seek inspiration to know her and her family.

·  Visit her regularly to learn how she is doing and to comfort and strengthen her.

·  Stay in frequent contact through visits, phone calls, letters, e-mail, text messages, and simple acts of kindness.

·  Greet her at Church meetings.

·  Help her when she has an emergency, illness, or other urgent need.

·  Teach her the gospel from the scriptures and the visiting teaching messages.

·  Inspire her by setting a good example.
(See “How Visiting Teachers Love, Watch Over, and Strengthen a Sister,” in Daughters in My Kingdom, page 123.)

The Purpose of Visiting Teaching is to Minister foundhere:  

I firmly believe that Relief Society visiting teaching is how our Heavenly Father answers our prayers.  I firmly believe that this is our sacred covenant when we are baptized.  I firmly believe that great friendships can be made through the simple act of monthly visiting teaching.  How great is a command to reach out to each other; to spiritually lift one another; and make monthly contact with each other! 

Gain a testimony of visiting teaching; gain a testimony of being a faithful visiting teacher. 

You can find more information here:  

Day 17--Grateful for Teachers

home & visiting teachers, that is!

I have developed some true friendships from these great callings.  (In our Church we have home and visiting teachers who visit church members each month.  For more info go here.)

It has been through these visits great friendships have been developed.  Not just from being taught, but also from teaching.  I love the Sisters I have taught over the years and the friendships I have made.

It is always nice to know that someone is going to check on you each month.  It is always nice to know that there are extra people praying for you when you are going through a tough time.  It is also nice to know there is ALWAYS someone you can call no matter what!

Thank you home and visiting teachers.  Past and present.  I love you all and appreciate what you have done and what you continue to do.  I hope you all know how you have influenced my life.  I love you, and for those visiting teachers and home teachers from my past, I MISS YOU ALL!

Day 14--Grateful for FB

Yep, FaceBook!

I love keeping up with my friends.

I love seeing the families of those I taught in Primary.

I love seeing the graduations, new babies, wedding, and other wonderful events that everyone shares.

I love the funny saying on FaceBook!  Sometimes I need a good laugh!

I love hearing from family and seeing how they are doing.

I love reading pages that share the same interests that I have.

I love it and it is my link to the outside world and to those friends who live far away...and for that I am grateful!

 

Day 9--Grateful for Friends

or as my heart refers to them as angels!

Over the years I am glad I have had friends who have helped me along this journey.  I am comforted to know if I need them, they will be there--through the good, the bad and the ugly.  And they have been there through the good, the bad and the ugly!

I consider each of you, my friends, a great treasure in my life.

Dreary

Okay so this blog is getting a little dreary with all of the grief posts I have been writing.  Humm, guess it's the time of the year, being in touch with my feelings and missing a wonderful man like crazy!

So here is some fun stuff--random pictures!

Every Widow Needs a Joan

A friend morning, noon, and night
Whose happy and uplifting
Warm and welcoming.

A friend who is living life and drags you kicking and screaming back amongest the living.
A friend whose shoulder you can cry on, and who will cry with you.
A friend who will laugh with you as well as at you!

Some one who will fix you dinner so you get a little nutrition every once in awhile,
And who invites you to do everything no matter how many declines you give her!

A friend who knocks on your door or calls in the mornings, so you can keep your mornings and nights straight!
A friend from the beginning to the end. . .
A friend who can stomach the ugliness and still be sweet. . .

A good friend, through thick, thin and,
Through the ugly and the repulsive side of grief!

Friends

I just love it when you cross paths with friends you haven't spoken to in years.  

Life gets busy and we physically lose touch, 

but we still love and cherish sweet friendships!

I am very excited at the prospect of renewing "old" friendships!

If Only

If only words could extend,
the love I feel for you,
my cherished friend.


If only lyrics of a song,
could tell my feelings,
I'd sing along.


If only I was sure you knew,
my love for you is great,
But, the words come few.

(27 August 1977)

Life

I just barely get everything fixed and new things break!  I just got the computer fixed and the new one up and running, and now  the central vacuum broke (I LOVE my central vac system and miss it dearly!), the windshield on the car has a crack, the DVD player/sound system is broken and the television has no sound.  Seriously!

Don't tell, but I'm almost sick of genealogy!  (Yep you heard it here, but ever say it out loud and I'll deny it!)  I have been serving my mission, just signed up for another two years (they changed the rules so I had to "sign up" twice; once the old way and then according to the new procedure!), I spoke in Sacrament about family history work, began indexing and have indexed over 2,000+ names, researched and found the Roberts Family in the 1940 census, kept the Roberts family blog updated regularly, worked shifts at the Eagle Mt. Family History Library, and helped two separate families in our ward individually on a weekly basis teaching them family history and research.  Plus, the newsletter is due this month, and finally, I'm preparing a family history trip with my dad to Iowa.

Crazy!  Especially since it is getting to be crunch time on gathering all of the needed information for the trip to Iowa.  I would hate to travel and spend all that time and money only to find out that a key piece of information or a document was available at the FHL.  So, I am trying to do extensive searches everywhere I know  before I leave.

With the release of the 1940 census, I was able to find most of the Roberts family that were alive in 1940--however I looked at over 382+ images to locate everyone!  Then, I had to copy and add that information to my genealogy program.  I'm still working on adding the information to my database, however I was able to link everyone to the source from the blog.  That took a whole day! 

I was able to spend a couple of days with a dear friend while her daughter was recuperating in the hospital.  I miss spending time with her on a daily basis, but will always treasure the time and the fun we were able to have. 

Finally, the Nieman's went on vacation, and I missed them terribly!  So, glad they are home and close; just knowing they were further than usual was difficult--what if I needed loves from those sweet grandchildren?!?

Easter was quiet.  Home alone while everyone was busy doing their thing, that's life (and death).  Afraid that is getting to be a pattern for holidays!  I also went through all my old poems to add to this blog!  That was fun/interesting/memorable/sad and insightful! 

So, this is what I've been up, what have you been doing?

My dear friend

This past week I learned that Sister & Elder H had completed their mission.  Due to health issues they are facing they are not able to serve any longer.

I am sad.

These are two of the most wonderful and beautiful people I have ever met.  I have found a dear sweet friend in Sister H.  We connected in a very special way and were able to share some very special times together.   I am very sad at the thought of not seeing seeing Sister H every Thursday, however, because of her, my life has been blessed.

Many prayers to Elder & Sister H for their health problems and may they always know I love each of them dearly.

We never really know how we affect people just by being who we are!

Gratitude

Things I am grateful for:

• The dear friend who brought over home made lasagna, who even though she knocked and I didn't answer the door, checked and walked right in.  I needed her but was too down to answer the door.
• The sweet little waitress in San Diego who served clam chowder with lemons and Tabasco sauce. Yummy.  That's the only way I can now eat clam chowder.
•  Life Insurance.  It has eased my path down the grief road.  I am very blessed.
• Learning how to use power tools and to mud sheet rock.
• Travel to Florida with my BFF
• Travel to Hawaii with another BFF
• Travel to Las Vegas and Yellowstone with two of my BFF's
• Grandchildren who were just with their papa Joe, and now are in my arms.
• The plan of Salvation, temple sealings and my faith in God
• My children
• The Internet that allows me connect with the outside world.
• My mission at the Family History Library, it has given my life meaning and service.
• Home teachers who come and visit each month
• DVR
• My BMW and never ever ever having to find my keys!!!
• Learning to play the piano 
• Hugs from my grandchildren
• Good neighbors
• A warm bath
• A quilt and a cool breeze while I sleep
• My IPad

Trip to Vegas

Here's where we stayed

Here's what we saw:

Here's what I bought:

Minnie Mouse for little baby girl Smith

and

Tigger for little baby boy Lott

A much needed/wanted new purse, which I looooove.  

Thanks for the help Nanette!

Friends are family too

Spending our annual "February in Vegas" trip! Can you believe we have been doing this for over ten years! This year we are staying at the Stratosphere.

So far we have: shopped at the outlet mall and the outdoor outlet mall; ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant and TGI Friday's; saw "Iron Lady"; had aqua massages; split a banana split, french fries, onion rings and buffalo wings; risked our lives at the scary 7 Eleven and on Vegas roads; looked at the night lights from the Stratosphere; slept in, stayed up late, played trivia, compared apps., and signed up for Pintrest; and laughed and laughed and laughed!

I am so blessed to have my friends. They are great and I have so much fun with them. I need friendships to help me along this road, and these women are there for me, during the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of grief and life!

Thank you. I love you both!

(pictures to follow!)

Tired. . .

Don't know which is more difficult; 
dealing with the pain of loss, 
or dealing with the crap that remains!

Visiting Teaching

I love visiting teaching.  Tuesday, I got to go, and it was, as usual wonderful!  Visiting teaching allows daughters of God, to meet, help, and teach one another. 

Since moving to my current location, visiting teaching has allowed me to make loving friendships.  I have met these sweet women by being assigned to visit teach them, or they are assigned to visit teach with me as a partner.  It is such a blessing to be welcomed into  their homes and learn from these intelligent women. 

Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president said,  “In reality, visiting teaching is never finished. It is more a way of life than a task. Faithfully serving as a visiting teacher is evidence of our discipleship.” (source reference)

Visiting teaching has been such a blessing in my life.

Today I am grateful for:
1.  The Gospel
2.  Being a daughter of God
3.  visiting teaching
4.  Christ

What I've been up too...

Yesterday I took this sweetie and her mommy 

and drove 1 1/2 hours to see her aunt and uncle. 

We stopped by the fabric store 

and picked out this fabric for blankets for her new little cousin, 

who is due next month.

Then we went out to eat, of course.
Then we drove home.

Today,

I hung this in my "hall of pictures", it looks super!

Then, I did this--I just love my ladies!  More about this tomorrow.

In the middle of which I had to deal with this:

Something is wrong out in our area with the natural gas, so the company sent employees to every home to check your water heater and outdoor meter.  If you weren't home they shut your gas off!

When I saw the comments on Facebook, I automatically did what I have learned how to do--check the pilot light on the water heater, furnace and the stove.
Go me!
Widowhood has been a teacher!

Then I was able to disconnect 6 of these for a neighbor.  They were not working properly and were chirping uncontrollably!

And, of course I learned how to deal with these because of widowhood!

Twice in one day, the things I've learned from being a widow came in handy!

Now, if you'll excuse me I have more to do today!

Have a great day peeps!

Today I'm grateful for:
1.  Visiting teaching
2.  Knowing how to check my own pilot light, water heater, and furnace.
3.  Knowing how to disconnect smoke detectors.
4.  Having others to eat with so I don't have to eat alone!