Went to church with my mom and dad. I'm not one to enjoy other wards, I like to go to my own, but I people watch. I try to pick out who the parents or children of the speakers are by their expressions.
Anyway, as the sacrament prayer was said, the enunciation was crisp, with perfect expression, in one of those voices of announcers on TV, etc. All through the prayer I was wanting to see who was saying it. It was an older man...who also ended up being one of the speakers. Wow, what a speaker. He was the ultimate story-teller. It ended up he was a professor at BYU. On the way home, I told mom he should go into drama or acting and my mom said that is what he teaches at BYU. Turns out that he has taught one of my nieces, who loved him as a teacher.
We came home after sacrament meeting because that is all dad can handle health-wise at this point. I took a long nap, then Mike did. We had Taco Soup with my parents.
Later, we picked up Cheryl and went to Linda's house. Linda had asked for a father's blessing. It was very special and Dave was there to help. Cheryl watched the children. We all had tacos at Linda's home and talked.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Early day of rest
Mike was sick. I read the book on mom's shelf, the biography of her great-grandmother. Wonderful stories. Mom and I were talking later and she told about a time she was in a choir at BYU for graduation. The graduation speaker was President David O' McKay. After the graduation, he turned around to shake the hand of every singer in the choir. When he got to mom, he held her hand longer than everyone else's, asked her name, and after hearing her name (Pauline Hanks), he looked straight into her eyes and asked what she had done to honor the heritage of her name. I didn't know that was why she has searched her genealogy so fervently all these years.
My brother, Brian, came over to visit. We talked for a couple hours. It was so nice to catch up on memories and each other's families.
Cheryl came over at 4:30 to pick me up and take me to babysit for Linda and Dave so they could celebrate their anniversary. Originally, Mike and I were going to babysit, but since he was ill, Cheryl volunteered to pick me up and come with me. It was so nice to spend time alone talking to her after Maddy and Will went to bed. It was also nice to watch her efficiency in handling all three children. She really didn't even need me there. She is such a good mother. I am so amazed at how well all my children parent the children they are given.
So now I'm home and can't go to bed because I didn't take my medicine. It will be awhile before I can lay down.
My brother, Brian, came over to visit. We talked for a couple hours. It was so nice to catch up on memories and each other's families.
Cheryl came over at 4:30 to pick me up and take me to babysit for Linda and Dave so they could celebrate their anniversary. Originally, Mike and I were going to babysit, but since he was ill, Cheryl volunteered to pick me up and come with me. It was so nice to spend time alone talking to her after Maddy and Will went to bed. It was also nice to watch her efficiency in handling all three children. She really didn't even need me there. She is such a good mother. I am so amazed at how well all my children parent the children they are given.
So now I'm home and can't go to bed because I didn't take my medicine. It will be awhile before I can lay down.
Friday, December 27, 2013
The Museum
The day started with a long, drawn-out meal at The Cheesecake Factory...with all Linda's and Cheryl's kids. I thought they were very well-behaved considering what might have been. (I mean, Will only escaped once to check out the automated hand dryers in the bathroom.)
The next stop was the Book of Mormon Spanish Children's Museum. Oh, it was so fun to see Hannah, Abigail, and Maddy swishing their huge Flamenco skirts to the music. They had huge mirrors and lifesized models dancing to the music for children to imitate. It was hard to draw them away from that, they liked it so much. Even Will put on a black, backwards vest and tried his hand as the male dancer. The next favorite place was Lehi's ship. They actually got on the ship, built up blocks in it, fished for magnetic fish, and turned the steering mechanism. Hannah liked collecting the fish, while Will lay in the 'water' to help connect the fish to the poles. Abigail's favorite place was the Casa. There, she pulled the vegetable from the pretend garden. (The vegetables were shapes that had to be matched to the holes...so the carrots were triangles, and the beets were circles, etc.) Then they had to go to the chicken coop and collect eggs. There was a table, cupboard, stoves, refrigerators, dishes, etc. to set on the table to feed the missionaries. There was a place to build a temple made of huge, foam-type building blocks. Maddy liked to just jump on them. There was a jeep full of animal puppets from Latin American countries (like iguanas, llamas, rats, turtles, etc.) that the children could get in to drive to church, while there was a missionary bike to ride, computer games to play, hieroglyphic tablets to draw on, paper doll figures of Book of Mormon stories to put velcro outfits on, musical instruments to hear, art pressing tool, a tortilla toss, and more. We stayed there and they just loved it. It was hard to get them to leave. If that is still here when you come to Salt Lake City and you have children, you should come. There was a Boy Scout Museum (100 years with the church or something like that) that had lots of cool items, but we scurried through that because Will was finding every button to push or wheel to spin, and we didn't want to lose him....and of course, on the way out, he ran up to a tree with Christmas light, found the plug and disconnected it...then connected it again. I don't know what he will be when he grows up but he definitely is wired to connect things. And we saw a new side to Will...how he behaves around girls that like him. It was so cute to watch him and this little girl follow each other from place to place.
When we came home, we ate the most delicious cheesecakes. Thanks, Janet and Thiago.
The next stop was the Book of Mormon Spanish Children's Museum. Oh, it was so fun to see Hannah, Abigail, and Maddy swishing their huge Flamenco skirts to the music. They had huge mirrors and lifesized models dancing to the music for children to imitate. It was hard to draw them away from that, they liked it so much. Even Will put on a black, backwards vest and tried his hand as the male dancer. The next favorite place was Lehi's ship. They actually got on the ship, built up blocks in it, fished for magnetic fish, and turned the steering mechanism. Hannah liked collecting the fish, while Will lay in the 'water' to help connect the fish to the poles. Abigail's favorite place was the Casa. There, she pulled the vegetable from the pretend garden. (The vegetables were shapes that had to be matched to the holes...so the carrots were triangles, and the beets were circles, etc.) Then they had to go to the chicken coop and collect eggs. There was a table, cupboard, stoves, refrigerators, dishes, etc. to set on the table to feed the missionaries. There was a place to build a temple made of huge, foam-type building blocks. Maddy liked to just jump on them. There was a jeep full of animal puppets from Latin American countries (like iguanas, llamas, rats, turtles, etc.) that the children could get in to drive to church, while there was a missionary bike to ride, computer games to play, hieroglyphic tablets to draw on, paper doll figures of Book of Mormon stories to put velcro outfits on, musical instruments to hear, art pressing tool, a tortilla toss, and more. We stayed there and they just loved it. It was hard to get them to leave. If that is still here when you come to Salt Lake City and you have children, you should come. There was a Boy Scout Museum (100 years with the church or something like that) that had lots of cool items, but we scurried through that because Will was finding every button to push or wheel to spin, and we didn't want to lose him....and of course, on the way out, he ran up to a tree with Christmas light, found the plug and disconnected it...then connected it again. I don't know what he will be when he grows up but he definitely is wired to connect things. And we saw a new side to Will...how he behaves around girls that like him. It was so cute to watch him and this little girl follow each other from place to place.
When we came home, we ate the most delicious cheesecakes. Thanks, Janet and Thiago.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Memories of this Christmas
1. LMHO when Mike, who was engrossed in an online movie with earphones, saw a steward come down the aisle and didn't bother to see that he didn't have drinks, but popped his earphones out and asked for a cup of ice and a can of tomato juice. The look on the steward's face was priceless.
2. LMHO when Mike and Dave were struggling to know what to do with my father because he can't walk without help and it was icy. Then there was my elderly mom, walking alone behind them, holding a hot casserole in one hand and my father's walker in the other. No one helping her.
3. Meeting at Linda's home to witness the baby blessing of Joshua David Mitchell. I was impressed by the way Dave took charge and conducted the meeting as if it were a church meeting. It was so nice to see my frail father in the circle with Dave, dad, Justin, and Dave's brothers.
4. Seeing my sister, Joanne and brother, Brian. I haven't seen them for years. So nice to sit and talk.
5. Monday evening at Magleby Fresh with my sister, nieces, nephews, and their families, daughters' families, my mom and dad, my brother, Brian. I'll remember that when Jake came out as a santa in dredlocks to call names of the grandchildren to give them presents, Cheryl's children sniffed with an air of arrogance, "We know that is not the real Santa."...and had to be instructed to go and get the present. The baby, Benson did not want to go. Maddy screamed at the top of her lungs, "I don't want presents. I don't want presents!" and started crying. Will was just plain indifferent, but took the presents. No pictures of children sitting on his knee. That bombed. The games were not as hilarious as have been in other settings...except the human-sized stuffed ice cream cone even the children did not want. But the best part of the night was next. We went to Jake's home and the adults just sat around and sightread Christmas choral music from folders. It was so fun. I loved it.
6. Holding my grandchildren, one at a time...or more. Joshua is just a drooling, fist-munching cutie, who loves to be held.
7. Watching everyone unwrap presents. I especially liked the little sacks of presents that Will bought at his school store. He was so excited to see everyone open them. I remember my children doing that when they were little. One present in particular was when Hannah had opened a book and I wanted her to see that there was a CD of it at the end of the book, so I directed her to look in the back. When she got there, she gave a huge intake of air and breathed out a squeal of delight. "A dust jacket!" She announced. (What is that? We adults all questioned.) "It covers a book to keep out the dust," she replied.
8. Everyone pretending to eat 'pork', ask for 'pork' etc. because two children at the table hate ham, but love pork and they were asking for 2nds and 3rds of 'pork'...as we all grinned.
9. Seeing my nieces and nephews with their spouses and babies as they came over for dessert later in the day.
10. The dazzling blankets of diamonds glistening atop the snow when the sun came out.
11. Seeing old friends, Larry and Kendell, and Bro. Hughes.
12. My dad. He is very frail. He makes purring noises when he breathes. He sleeps a lot. When he has to recall to tell a long story he stumbles over the words--trying to remember the vocabulary and details. But, when he speaks directly to you, he is alert and makes sense. He has to eat soft foods or liquids and lean over to swallow. It is a long process and he is just skin and bones. He walks with a walker and needs a lot of help to get in and out and up. He was in the circle to bless baby Joshua. When Mike and Dave knelt down to bless baby Joshua when he was sick, my dad knew exactly what was going on and was trying to kneel on the ground, too...till they realized he was also participating and brought the baby over to him. I know it is hard to be old, but my dad is recovering from hip replacement, a lung infection, and has a growth in the back of his throat that prevents him from eating real/normal food. He also has the beginnings of memory loss. I am so glad I came to be with him. He loves everyone who visits and just clings to their hands with tears in his eyes thanking them for visiting. Mom and dad live in a ward that watches over them. I am so glad.
13. My mom is giving everything of value away. She offered me the Danish china, each one that is hand-painted, but I found out Warren wanted them, so I said Warren could have it. She offered me my choice of silver antiques. I chose the candlesticks because they remind me of Les Miserables. She has so much to give away that belonged to her relatives. I read some of their histories. I am just amazed at what they have gone through because they joined the church. One ancestor had been blind for 4 years due to the measles and the missionaries on the Isle of Mann had the ward fast for 24 hours...and as the meeting closed, she could see again. They immigrated to the United States to go to Nauvoo with the Saints, but they landed in New Orleans first. She described the horrible slave trade. She told of a new mother and her baby pleading with her mother to buy her and her baby so they could stay together and her mother said if she could, she would, but she had no money. What a sad thing to witness. There is such history in my mom's possessions with all the journals, pictures, and genealogy she has. We really need to scan all the photos and put them on a CD for everyone.
2. LMHO when Mike and Dave were struggling to know what to do with my father because he can't walk without help and it was icy. Then there was my elderly mom, walking alone behind them, holding a hot casserole in one hand and my father's walker in the other. No one helping her.
3. Meeting at Linda's home to witness the baby blessing of Joshua David Mitchell. I was impressed by the way Dave took charge and conducted the meeting as if it were a church meeting. It was so nice to see my frail father in the circle with Dave, dad, Justin, and Dave's brothers.
4. Seeing my sister, Joanne and brother, Brian. I haven't seen them for years. So nice to sit and talk.
5. Monday evening at Magleby Fresh with my sister, nieces, nephews, and their families, daughters' families, my mom and dad, my brother, Brian. I'll remember that when Jake came out as a santa in dredlocks to call names of the grandchildren to give them presents, Cheryl's children sniffed with an air of arrogance, "We know that is not the real Santa."...and had to be instructed to go and get the present. The baby, Benson did not want to go. Maddy screamed at the top of her lungs, "I don't want presents. I don't want presents!" and started crying. Will was just plain indifferent, but took the presents. No pictures of children sitting on his knee. That bombed. The games were not as hilarious as have been in other settings...except the human-sized stuffed ice cream cone even the children did not want. But the best part of the night was next. We went to Jake's home and the adults just sat around and sightread Christmas choral music from folders. It was so fun. I loved it.
6. Holding my grandchildren, one at a time...or more. Joshua is just a drooling, fist-munching cutie, who loves to be held.
7. Watching everyone unwrap presents. I especially liked the little sacks of presents that Will bought at his school store. He was so excited to see everyone open them. I remember my children doing that when they were little. One present in particular was when Hannah had opened a book and I wanted her to see that there was a CD of it at the end of the book, so I directed her to look in the back. When she got there, she gave a huge intake of air and breathed out a squeal of delight. "A dust jacket!" She announced. (What is that? We adults all questioned.) "It covers a book to keep out the dust," she replied.
8. Everyone pretending to eat 'pork', ask for 'pork' etc. because two children at the table hate ham, but love pork and they were asking for 2nds and 3rds of 'pork'...as we all grinned.
9. Seeing my nieces and nephews with their spouses and babies as they came over for dessert later in the day.
10. The dazzling blankets of diamonds glistening atop the snow when the sun came out.
11. Seeing old friends, Larry and Kendell, and Bro. Hughes.
12. My dad. He is very frail. He makes purring noises when he breathes. He sleeps a lot. When he has to recall to tell a long story he stumbles over the words--trying to remember the vocabulary and details. But, when he speaks directly to you, he is alert and makes sense. He has to eat soft foods or liquids and lean over to swallow. It is a long process and he is just skin and bones. He walks with a walker and needs a lot of help to get in and out and up. He was in the circle to bless baby Joshua. When Mike and Dave knelt down to bless baby Joshua when he was sick, my dad knew exactly what was going on and was trying to kneel on the ground, too...till they realized he was also participating and brought the baby over to him. I know it is hard to be old, but my dad is recovering from hip replacement, a lung infection, and has a growth in the back of his throat that prevents him from eating real/normal food. He also has the beginnings of memory loss. I am so glad I came to be with him. He loves everyone who visits and just clings to their hands with tears in his eyes thanking them for visiting. Mom and dad live in a ward that watches over them. I am so glad.
13. My mom is giving everything of value away. She offered me the Danish china, each one that is hand-painted, but I found out Warren wanted them, so I said Warren could have it. She offered me my choice of silver antiques. I chose the candlesticks because they remind me of Les Miserables. She has so much to give away that belonged to her relatives. I read some of their histories. I am just amazed at what they have gone through because they joined the church. One ancestor had been blind for 4 years due to the measles and the missionaries on the Isle of Mann had the ward fast for 24 hours...and as the meeting closed, she could see again. They immigrated to the United States to go to Nauvoo with the Saints, but they landed in New Orleans first. She described the horrible slave trade. She told of a new mother and her baby pleading with her mother to buy her and her baby so they could stay together and her mother said if she could, she would, but she had no money. What a sad thing to witness. There is such history in my mom's possessions with all the journals, pictures, and genealogy she has. We really need to scan all the photos and put them on a CD for everyone.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Musings
Our Sunday school lesson was on the whole armor of God and the teacher listed each thing and what it represented. One of the people asked why the feet were shod with the" preparation" for the Gospel of Peace. Why was it the preparation? Here are many answers. 1) One, the one that was in a talk by Harold B. Lee had to do with the things we learn in the early conversion of the Gospel. I capitalized on that, saying that the basics are what is taught in Primary. If you don't have the basics, you don't have a firm foundation to stand on. 2) Another person talked about a preparation being an ointment that is applied to the feet, such as the oil applied to the feet of the Savior and wondered if there was any symbolism there. 3) Another person talked about peace...so another person said that peace in the temple...where every one of the separate items listed in the armor of God is also mentioned. I was very struck with that statement, and will probably study it more to find a connection.
When I was visiting teaching in my old ward, I talked with one of my sisters and we got to talking about all the lonely people in the ward. We both could not believe how they could be lonely because we both are very happy to be by ourselves. Well, it has been almost 2 months now...and I am happy being with myself, but I came to realize that neither that sister nor I were lonely because we both had callings where we associated and cared for others. When we moved to this ward, they were very friendly...and they still are, but Mike got a companion and home teaching route the first week we attended. We've had home teachers visit us twice and Mike is all over the map doing things for his families. In addition to that, Mike has a calling he has had for 2 weeks. He has even taught the High Priest's lesson. I don't have a calling. I don't have visiting teachers. I don't have a visiting teaching route. So when I go to church...yes, they are friendly, but I just sit. I have nothing to do. I wonder how long a person would continue to do that without going inactive? I realized that I really need to have a calling.
That being said, I looked at my home and realized that everything I wanted it to be is not done. Then I had a thought come to me that until I prepare my home, I will not be ready to serve in my calling. So, I have a week till I leave for Utah and I will be hanging pictures, opening boxes, putting up drapes, etc. Everything needs to be in its place...and we are still not out of the other house. Getting closer, but not there, yet.
When I was visiting teaching in my old ward, I talked with one of my sisters and we got to talking about all the lonely people in the ward. We both could not believe how they could be lonely because we both are very happy to be by ourselves. Well, it has been almost 2 months now...and I am happy being with myself, but I came to realize that neither that sister nor I were lonely because we both had callings where we associated and cared for others. When we moved to this ward, they were very friendly...and they still are, but Mike got a companion and home teaching route the first week we attended. We've had home teachers visit us twice and Mike is all over the map doing things for his families. In addition to that, Mike has a calling he has had for 2 weeks. He has even taught the High Priest's lesson. I don't have a calling. I don't have visiting teachers. I don't have a visiting teaching route. So when I go to church...yes, they are friendly, but I just sit. I have nothing to do. I wonder how long a person would continue to do that without going inactive? I realized that I really need to have a calling.
That being said, I looked at my home and realized that everything I wanted it to be is not done. Then I had a thought come to me that until I prepare my home, I will not be ready to serve in my calling. So, I have a week till I leave for Utah and I will be hanging pictures, opening boxes, putting up drapes, etc. Everything needs to be in its place...and we are still not out of the other house. Getting closer, but not there, yet.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Grandpa Felsch needs your prayers.
My dad is in the process of finding out what is wrong. He has a swelling in his throat and a mass in his lungs. Not sure whether is is pneumonia, but he can hardly swallow. He has lost a lot of weight. They have asked for everyone's prayers.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Picture 24
It was just Heidi and David's children left. I had just rocked Miles to sleep and Carter and Halley had a loud dispute over toys. I loudly whispered for Mike, who came to supervise. After giving toy rights to both children, Halley lay on her back and her high-pitched, tearless cry waled. Mike asked why she was crying. She stopped and in a pitiful voice said, "I so sad." Mike looked at me and said, "Cheryl has nothing on Halley."
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