Elders Quorum Moving, Inc

My job in our ward (congregation) is to be an assistant in the elders quorum presidency. We're supposed to help our bishop (pastor) to look after the people in the ward, and help with their spiritual and physical welfare, which usually means that they call us when people move in or out of our ward.

Last Saturday I spend a couple of hours helping someone move in, and today we spent about 4 hours helping someone move out. This morning Hal, our quorum president, called at about 9:20 (whoops, I slept in) since nobody else showed up.

Hal later told me that his wife said that he is going to have to keep being president until he stops complaining every time we have to help someone move (which has been very often lately).

It was kind of sad, really. The guy's wife (second) just left him, and he is struggling financially. He just seemed to have a deep sadness about him. Even though I sometimes grumble about these things, I didn't mind doing it. Serving others is always intrinsically rewarding, and it makes you feel good to think about others instead of yourself.

On a side note, moving always make me think about how we have way too much junk. It make me want to start throwing stuff way.

Black diamond boy

Miles is not content skiing anymore unless he can go down at least some black diamond runs. Last Friday he took me down 'Wintergreen' at Brighton. Wintergreen sounds like a nice easy run but it is not; it is a steep, narrow, bumpy, ski run of terror! He easily goes around the steep moguls with his short skis, while I try to go down without breaking my neck.

So this week I let him take Melinda skiing instead of me. He, he he! They went with Kevin, and it sounds like they had a good time. I started to get worried last week because Miles told me he was getting 'bored' of the same runs. So he took Melinda on 'Wintergreen', 'My o My' and 'Wren Hollow'. It sounds like she did pretty well on those black runs. When did everyone get better than me?

My little ski buddy is going to be way too advanced for me in a few years. I can see him now; weaving in and out of the trees and going down steep chutes with powder blowing all around him while his old man putters down the bunny hill.

Dwarf irises

After the crocuses, the Iris reticulatas are the next flower to bloom. These are great little flowers that get better every year. We planted the bulbs about 5 years ago and now we have several sizable colonies growing in the front yard.

This sky blue variety, Iris reticulata 'Harmony', is starting to collect snow flakes during the ides of March. It doesn't mind the snow at all.

Lisette doesn't mind the late winter snowfall either.

These little gems were completely covered a deep blanket of snow, but as soon as it melts they look as good as ever.

I believe this purple clump is the most representative of the species, but they are several varieties, including white ones. They bloom for about 3 weeks and they definitely get me excited for spring!

Lonely delegate blues

Today I went to my party's caucus meeting. I haven't ever been to one before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Democrats are few and far between in this red state, which is a shame. Even if you don't subscribe to the national party line, it seems dangerous to have a virtual one party system in local politics.

So we met all together first for an introduction and then we split up into our precincts. I sat down at my precinct's table and patiently waited for the cohorts of my precinct to join me and tell me how this is all done. I kept waiting. When nobody else came to my table I started to feel like the last one picked for dodge ball. How appropriate that this was in an elementary school gym/cafeteria!

I dully drove home after the meeting thinking, "what have I done!" I vaguely recalled something about becoming precinct chair and delegate... something about a dodo and Alice running around in circles... did I just win a caucus race?

How did this happen? I ignorantly went to this meeting just to "check it out" and left feeling like I had just enlisted in the Army.

I guess it's like they say "the world is run by those who show up." Let's just hope that those who show up know what they're doing.

Like a child at home

This morning greeted us with bright cheerful sunshine, perfect for Easter Sunday and full of the promise of spring. We had a lovely church service today that was both powerful and peaceful. It was all about Christ, His resurrection, and His atonement. I especially enjoyed singing with the choir.

I joined our church choir about two years ago. Growing up I always thought I was terrible at singing, and always avoided it. But through the years I've come to peace with it, and have actually enjoyed singing hymns in the congregation. I still don't sound 'great' but I sing passably well, especially when there are others around me to blend in with. I've found that singing with the choir has been surprisingly rewarding.

Today we sang three songs. One that was particularly poignant was "My Shepherd Will Provide My Need," by Isaac Watts which is based on the 23rd Psalm. We were accompanied by a young oboist and flautist who played beautifully. These are the lyrics to this piece:

My Shepherd will supply my need,
Jehovah is His name.
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.

He brings my wand’ring spirit back,
When I forsake His ways.
And leads me for His mercy’s sake
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay.
One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.

Thy hand in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread.
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days.
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come.
No more a stranger nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

I really fell in love with this piece as we learned during practice this last 3 weeks. I especially love the last stanza and the imagery it invokes; of being where you truly belong, loved and safe. Jesus offers us that love; when we come to Him we can feel like a child at home.

Yeah for babies!

Today was a great baby day! Makenna came over to play with Saffron while her parents brought home her little sister from the hospital.


Here she is, beautiful little Hope! I was really glad they could stop by and we could see her. She's definitely a keeper. Makenna is going to be a lovely big sister.

We were also very excited to hear news of Zachary and Benjamin! Two beautiful baby boys. I got to talk to the proud papa, and even though the mama sounded pretty tired, they're going to make great parents! We're so happy for them.


This has been a great season for cousins! Three cousins in two weeks, and counting Miriam, our kids have four cousins in two months! Yeah for babies!

March is for skiing

Yesterday Miles, Ian and Saffron helped me do some garden cleanup in the front yard. We cut down all the dead stems and leaves from the flowers and grasses to make way for the crocuses and the other spring blooming bulbs that will be coming up.

I love it when the kids come and help me in the garden. I think the boys especially love using the pruners and grass shearers. It's so nice to be outside and out in the garden again.

Miles and I went night skiing at Brighton Saturday night. It was a most excellent skiing trip. We got there right at 4:00 and I realized I left my ski pants home. Doh! I didn't think I could ski all night in my shorts, so Miles and I went to the pro shop to see what they had. Luckily everything was half off, so that wasn't too bad. I needed new pants anyway; my old ones are about 13 years old and were getting several rips.

I think March is one of the best times for night skiing. The slopes aren't crowded, the snow is still very good, it's warmer, and the days are longer. We didn't have to wait at all to get on the lift.


Miles and I skied really hard. We got in 10 runs before we packed it in. We were trying to get in an even dozen, but we got a little tired. Miles even talked me into trying the half pipe. I thought I could just go up the sides a little bit, but I was wrong. I ended up going almost all the way up the wall! The first time I slid down on my back, but after that I did pretty well. I was surprised how much momentum you get on it.

I'm so glad Melinda took Miles for lessons when she did a couple of years ago. It's so much fun to have a little ski buddy to hit the slopes with.

Sites of spring

I love crocuses. They are such lovely little flowers. After you plant the bulbs in fall, you don't ever have to worry about them again. Every year they multiply and bloom in bigger clumps. They're so endearing because they're the first flower to bloom in spring.

Usually they will bloom in late February, but this winter was harsher than most, so they didn't come up until now.

They orange crocuses are especially fun; their color is so vibrant contrasted against the plain brown earth and the tawny dead leaves and foliage. They also have this great dark green pine needle-like leaves.

This early-rising honeybee is happy to have some nectar to sip and some pollen to collect.

Here's a purple Iris reticulata that's already in bloom. The rest of them will come up in full force later this month. Spring is on it's way!

Animal chemistry

Tonight the kids did some more science experiments. They did some chemical reactions and then some acid and base testing.


Saffron helped me start seeds downstairs. She put the labels in the containers, and dropped the seeds in the soil. She kept telling me that I was muddy whenever I got soil on my hands. It worked out well, because Saffron turns into a crazy mad scientist whenever they do experiments.

Earlier today they all went to Hogle Zoo. We got a year membership to the Tracy Aviary, and they have some free days at the zoo for Aviary members.

Miles loved the penguins and they got to see the rare white alligator in the "Ghost of the Bayou" exhibit.

Ian had to hang out with the bronze gorilla (much safer than the fleshy kind) because the ape house was closed.

Everyone liked the big cats, and they got to see some new animal babies.

They tore out the old hippo house and they are going to put in a wild animal carousel (though technically it's a merry-go-round if it has animals other than horses) but I'm sure Saff will love it no matter what it's called.

Hope

We are happy to welcome baby Hope into our extended family. Tomorrow morning she goes into surgery to have a tumor removed. We're so happy she has made it this far, and she and her parents are in our prayers.

Yeasty matters

Saturday night Miles was hungry and wanted to make something new. So we went through the cookbook and he picked out sweet rolls. I remember when we still had a working bread machine I would use it to mix up lots of different kinds of breads and bake them in the oven.

The bread machine died a few years back, and since then I don't think I've made any yeast breads. Somehow it seemed to hard. So Saturday Miles and I made cinnamon rolls. It was actually pretty easy. Actually, the process of kneading the dough was enjoyable. It felt like meditating somehow.

Then on Sunday miles wanted to make something else, so we made rolls. They all turned out very good. Sometimes I forget how some work is intrinsically rewarding. Maybe I'll have to start making bread again.

That reminds me. I still haven't started my seeds yet. Dang! How do the weeks slip by so fast?